Johntriumph Posted June 24, 2023 Report Share Posted June 24, 2023 Hi! There is a metallic rattling coming from the rear of my spitfire. UJs changed recently, however sound is still there. Any ideas? Sound is worse when reversing, turning or on uneven surfaces- no noise otherwise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Clark Posted June 24, 2023 Report Share Posted June 24, 2023 Are the new UJs tight in their yokes? Over the years, the yokes and particularly their circlip grooves can wear, allowing play even with brand new UJs. Canley Classics sell thicker circlips to take up this wear. Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted June 24, 2023 Report Share Posted June 24, 2023 Is it possible it's worse when reversing as you're moving in the direction of the sound, rather than away? Is it worse when turning to one side only, or both? Could it be the exhaust rattling, try to move it about when cold and the engine is turned off and see if you can make the same noises? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted June 25, 2023 Report Share Posted June 25, 2023 is it a rythmical rattle tied to wheel rotation speeds or a random clatter when on power ??? Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff.b Posted June 25, 2023 Report Share Posted June 25, 2023 20 hours ago, Nigel Clark said: Are the new UJs tight in their yokes? Over the years, the yokes and particularly their circlip grooves can wear, allowing play even with brand new UJs. Canley Classics sell thicker circlips to take up this wear. Nigel I changed a drive shaft last year and noticed that the new UJ was tight in the shaft yoke but "floppy" in the diff side yoke which I reused. Not surprisingly, there was slight clonking which is now getting worse so needs attention. I was going to replace the old yoke but are these thicker circlips a reasonable alternative? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted June 25, 2023 Report Share Posted June 25, 2023 yes they do work and easy to fit On Car if you can lay underneath ok remove thin and refit with a thick un Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff.b Posted June 25, 2023 Report Share Posted June 25, 2023 16 minutes ago, Pete Lewis said: yes they do work and easy to fit On Car if you can lay underneath ok remove thin and refit with a thick un Worth a try I think 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted June 25, 2023 Report Share Posted June 25, 2023 you just dont want any yoke float these shaftss UJtake a lot of load not like a prop which is more tolerant and self centre. lever ad pry with wheel at running Hight not left hanging Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted June 25, 2023 Report Share Posted June 25, 2023 1 hour ago, cliff.b said: Worth a try I think 👍 Believe you can also make up spacers from a coke can to take up any end play... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff.b Posted June 25, 2023 Report Share Posted June 25, 2023 9 minutes ago, johny said: Believe you can also make up spacers from a coke can to take up any end play... Yes, I suppose that should work 🤔 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekS Posted June 25, 2023 Report Share Posted June 25, 2023 That's how I established where the noise was coming from on mine 16 years ago, I mic'd up a Fosters beer tin one night, 3 thou, made a set of shims up and hey presto, no noise. Easy make too! Derek. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted June 25, 2023 Report Share Posted June 25, 2023 just got to be sure the circlip slot isnt too worn and its going to pop out😲 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josef Posted June 25, 2023 Report Share Posted June 25, 2023 36 minutes ago, DerekS said: That's how I established where the noise was coming from on mine 16 years ago, I mic'd up a Fosters beer tin one night, 3 thou, made a set of shims up and hey presto, no noise. Easy make too! Derek. Yes, and disposing of the liquid the shim material comes packaged with is alright too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff.b Posted June 25, 2023 Report Share Posted June 25, 2023 1 hour ago, DerekS said: That's how I established where the noise was coming from on mine 16 years ago, I mic'd up a Fosters beer tin one night, 3 thou, made a set of shims up and hey presto, no noise. Easy make too! Derek. That seems very thin. How many shims did you need to use? I see the oversized circlips are +9 thou. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted June 25, 2023 Report Share Posted June 25, 2023 there are a good few Tee shirts for the circlip popping out just down the road , followed by a horrendous racket certainly make suppa sure the groove is clean and the clip legs are fully located and all 4 look identical Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted June 25, 2023 Report Share Posted June 25, 2023 Thats what surprises me about needing thicker circlips - by definition isnt that going to mean the grooves in the yokes are worn? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekS Posted June 25, 2023 Report Share Posted June 25, 2023 (edited) Cliff b, I only needed one shim under each circlip on mine. But bear in mind that's a "float" of 6 thou in total. I have now replaced them with thicker circlips; I found that some of the circlips supplied with new U/Js were not a standard thickness. This can be a right old minefield... a micrometer is an absolute must for comparison. Derek. Ps, don't assume that the yokes were accurately machined in the first place. Edited June 25, 2023 by DerekS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff.b Posted June 26, 2023 Report Share Posted June 26, 2023 (edited) 12 hours ago, DerekS said: Cliff b, I only needed one shim under each circlip on mine. But bear in mind that's a "float" of 6 thou in total. I have now replaced them with thicker circlips; I found that some of the circlips supplied with new U/Js were not a standard thickness. This can be a right old minefield... a micrometer is an absolute must for comparison. Derek. Ps, don't assume that the yokes were accurately machined in the first place. Been taking a look this morning and there is noticeable end float in the old yoke. Removed the circlips and the UJ caps move easily. Both circlips are about 60 thou thick. No yokes for the later Spits appear to be available anywhere at the moment so doing to try shimming. Was the can you used aluminium or steel? Edited June 26, 2023 by cliff.b Add text Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted June 26, 2023 Report Share Posted June 26, 2023 (edited) i tried harden steel shim stock it only lasted a few miles and became minced up if a coke can can last ??? there is a lot of load contained in these drive shaft UJs they dont take prisoners shim has to be a good sized fit if any cap rotation takes place i dont think shims will last well take care , loosing a clip is a wonderful sound pete Edited June 26, 2023 by Pete Lewis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff.b Posted June 26, 2023 Report Share Posted June 26, 2023 As recycling was collected yesterday the only can I had was dissected and found to be aluminum about 12 thou thick. Made a couple of shims using an old UJ cap as a pattern but could only fit one as too thick for two. Now no visible float and if the circlips are forced to turn in their slots with a hammer and punch, the shim moves with it and on the other side without a shim, the UJ cap moves with the circlip So assuming in normal use the UJ cap is now being held tightly and will be stationary. Driving the car the noise has completely gone at the moment, so proving that was the problem. Will probably fit the thicker circlips at some point but while they are 25p at Canley's the minimum postage is £4.10, so I will either look for them elsewhere or wait until I need something else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted June 26, 2023 Report Share Posted June 26, 2023 As said the thicker circlips are +4.5 thou each so maximum you can take up will be 9 thou - a bit less than youve installed but it will be equally divide on both side... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff.b Posted June 26, 2023 Report Share Posted June 26, 2023 Ak, ok. So when it says +9 that is for the pair 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekS Posted June 26, 2023 Report Share Posted June 26, 2023 And just to complicate matters further, some of the new circlips supplied with the good quality new U/Js were thinner than the originals, can't remember the value now but it was considerable. A minefield. I also changed the U/J on my propshaft and didn't have any bother whatsoever... Derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted June 26, 2023 Report Share Posted June 26, 2023 18 minutes ago, cliff.b said: Ak, ok. So when it says +9 that is for the pair 👍 well thats the way I took it as the circlips Canleys do are 0.0615 and 0.0645 thick so taking a standard one as 60 thou (?) that would make oversizes of 1.5 and 4.5 thou per circlip. You really want to use them in pairs to keep the axis centred so giving 3 and 9 thou... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff.b Posted June 26, 2023 Report Share Posted June 26, 2023 2 minutes ago, johny said: well thats the way I took it as the circlips Canleys do are 0.0615 and 0.0645 thick so taking a standard one as 60 thou (?) that would make oversizes of 1.5 and 4.5 thou per circlip. You really want to use them in pairs to keep the axis centred so giving 3 and 9 thou... So as I fitted a 12 thou shim and could have probably fitted a thinner one the other side my yoke is probably well knackered lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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