LG45 rear axle

DavidLG45

19 April 2012 at 15:27 #48951

I am trying to get the hubs and half shafts out to replace the felt washers. The axle is in good condition externally but I imagine they’ve probably never been off plus there has been no oil in the axle for some time – apart from a coating over the contents – and imagine the felt washers are past their best.
However it is easier said than done. Th club manual advises “The halfshafts complete with hubs can be withdrawn by undoing the bearing casing from the backplate Once the retaining nuts and bolts have been removed (done that), replace the hub cap (wheel spinner, I assume) and tap it with a copper hammer to dislodge the bearing cover from its recess.”
If only. . . . Nothing happens and doesn’t seem very likely. No mention of doing anything the differential end.
Any help or suggestions gratefully received.

David

19 April 2012 at 21:51 #48955

Hello David,
I found a letter with notes on THE LAGONDA REAR AXLE from Capt. Ivan Forshaw to the previous owner of our car (16/80).
It is a generic guide to the removal and rebuild of the rear axle with particular reference to the light assembly.
Extract as follows…..
‘The wheels and brake drums should next be removed and the half shafts and hubs withdrawn. The latter can be withdrawn by removing six of the eight securing nuts. The bearing housing is slotted to clear the two remaining nuts and these should not be disturbed at this stage. The bearing housing will probably refuse to come away readily in which case they may be levered out; tyre levers are suitable for this purpose.

I am not sure if this relates to your rear axle but if you want to give me your address i would be happy to photocopy the full guide and send it to you.

Regards
Chris

DavidLG45

20 April 2012 at 10:07 #48956

Hello Chris,

Thanks for your response. It does sound similar but alas there is nowhere to put even a screwdriver in to lever out the housing so levering out doesn’t seem an option. I’ll send you a PM if I would like to take advantage of your kind offer of the photocopy.

I think it’s going to be a major problem to get these out so I may give up and hope the oil doesn’t leak out when I refill it. Why do these descriptions of the method always seem so straightforward. May have worked when the cars were new but have the writers ever tried it 75 years on, one wonders?

There is also a tiny bit of play in the hub (on rotation, not in and out) which probably needs locating and rectifying.

I have a feeling there may be some article in an old Club magazine on the subject of half shaft removal, but which one?

David

20 April 2012 at 13:33 #48957

Hello David,

You are welcome.
i think that there may have been an article in one of the older magazines following the rebuild of the Herb scholfield and Co LG45 team car replica. I could be wrong but when i get a few minutes i will have a look through what magazines i have.

As for a tiny bit of play in the hub, our car also has some movement and it is something i keep an eye on although we have covered a few thousand miles now and it has not worsened.

Well, good luck with it (i guess 75 years of use, dirt and oil is better than any superglue).

Chris

DavidLG45

20 April 2012 at 14:20 #48958

Hello Chris,

Many thanks Chris. If you do find the article let me know which and I’ll stop looking myself. I have them back to the late 70s plus a few before so quite a few to look through.

David

21 April 2012 at 19:48 #48962

Hello David,
I have looked through my old magazines and the only article on the rear axle is nearly identical word for word to the letter from Ivan Forshaw so i don’t think it will help you.
The magazine is No.34 Spring 1960 page 18-20.
I hope you have success.
Chris

DavidLG45

21 April 2012 at 22:25 #48963

Hello Chris,

Many thanks for looking through your magazines.

David