Amazon: - Backend noise...

48pop · Mar 21st, 2008, 09:12

Hi Folks,

Since I've had my '66 there has always been a noise from the back end....

Difficult to describe but it sounds like something is chattering on the body somewhere in the region of the back axle. Get it up to 15mph and its gone.

I did think it could have been knackered bushes on a shock or similar, but although I have not taken them out, as far as I can see, the bushes look fine.

I rebushed everthing else on the axle a few weeks ago, and I did hope that would cure it.....

So now I'm thinking it could be propshaft UJ......It is a kind of "knuckly, rotatey" kind of noise if you can imagine that! I put the car up on stands last night, started it up and put it in gear. Again difficult to tell but I don't think I heard the noise....Would it be different with the wheels in the air???

The axle does whine on overrun but I can live with that...

Any thoughts?? Or should I just replace the UJ's anyway.

Cheers
Gerry

Derek UK · Mar 21st, 2008, 09:51

If the car is safely up in the air, you'll need the rear wheels clear to turn, and as much height as possible to allow you to slide under the car. With the GB in neutral you should be able to turn the prop by hand. You can then see how much play there is between each section by checking the play in each UJ. You might be able to hear it too. It's usually fairly obvious if one is on its way out but sometimes only 1 of the 4 ends has play and that isn't so easy to spot. Check them all, lever them about with a screwdriver. Have a look at the centre bearing while you're under there. If any of the propshaft sections have been off since you've had the car, worthwhile checking anyway, make sure that the yokes are exactly as shown in the manual. As the rear part moves up and down with the rear suspension, the relationship of the 2 sections has to be correct to allow the propshaft to "hinge" in the middle.
Give the nipple in the back end of the front prop a few pumps of grease to the spline. This grease point is rarely mentioned and usually forgotten. Hands up those who didn't know it was there................. Type 3 propshaft owners are exempt from this question.

48pop · Mar 21st, 2008, 10:48

I supported the car with the stands under the axle........I had no idea there was a grease nipple on the prop......I'll go out and do that tonight....

Any other greasing points I should be aware of? I have to be honest, I've not done any greasing in 10 months ...

Derek UK · Mar 21st, 2008, 13:23

After they stopped fitting grease nipples to the front suspension and steering joints about '64-'65, probably coincided with the facelift changes, the only one left was the one on the prop. Hardest to get to, so out of sight, out of mind. Worthwhile doing it though. Some UJ's have a screwed plug at the centre of the "cross" that can be exchanged for a grease nipple for topping them up. Not enough clearance to keep the nipple there usually so the screw goes back in afterwards. Again, rarely done.

Andrew (UK) · Mar 22nd, 2008, 20:31

I just fitted new UJs to my prop shaft. They came with zerk fittings (grease nipples). When fitted correctly (took a couple of tries on one of the UJs, ahem) there seemed to be enough clearance so that there is no contact possible. The yokes have a relief on one side to allow for this.

Andrew

PS no zerk fitting on the sliding joint for me.

Quarterless · Apr 10th, 2008, 12:44

I had a similar knocking noise. Turned out to be the handbrake mechanism in the rear drums. If you take the hub off see if the handbrake operating lever makes a knocking noise when you tap it. Mine did so I adjusted a spring clip that holds it in place which sorted it.

Mar 21st, 2008, 09:12	#1
48pop Senior Member Last Online: Feb 13th, 2019 21:41 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Near Glasgow	Backend noise... Hi Folks, Since I've had my '66 there has always been a noise from the back end.... Difficult to describe but it sounds like something is chattering on the body somewhere in the region of the back axle. Get it up to 15mph and its gone. I did think it could have been knackered bushes on a shock or similar, but although I have not taken them out, as far as I can see, the bushes look fine. I rebushed everthing else on the axle a few weeks ago, and I did hope that would cure it..... So now I'm thinking it could be propshaft UJ......It is a kind of "knuckly, rotatey" kind of noise if you can imagine that! I put the car up on stands last night, started it up and put it in gear. Again difficult to tell but I don't think I heard the noise....Would it be different with the wheels in the air??? The axle does whine on overrun but I can live with that... Any thoughts?? Or should I just replace the UJ's anyway. Cheers Gerry __________________ ________________________________________ Gerry (nr Glasgow)

Mar 21st, 2008, 10:48	#3
48pop Senior Member Last Online: Feb 13th, 2019 21:41 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Near Glasgow	I supported the car with the stands under the axle........I had no idea there was a grease nipple on the prop......I'll go out and do that tonight.... Any other greasing points I should be aware of? I have to be honest, I've not done any greasing in 10 months ... __________________ ________________________________________ Gerry (nr Glasgow)

Mar 21st, 2008, 09:51	#2
Derek UK VOC Member Last Online: Yesterday 18:24 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chatham	If the car is safely up in the air, you'll need the rear wheels clear to turn, and as much height as possible to allow you to slide under the car. With the GB in neutral you should be able to turn the prop by hand. You can then see how much play there is between each section by checking the play in each UJ. You might be able to hear it too. It's usually fairly obvious if one is on its way out but sometimes only 1 of the 4 ends has play and that isn't so easy to spot. Check them all, lever them about with a screwdriver. Have a look at the centre bearing while you're under there. If any of the propshaft sections have been off since you've had the car, worthwhile checking anyway, make sure that the yokes are exactly as shown in the manual. As the rear part moves up and down with the rear suspension, the relationship of the 2 sections has to be correct to allow the propshaft to "hinge" in the middle. Give the nipple in the back end of the front prop a few pumps of grease to the spline. This grease point is rarely mentioned and usually forgotten. Hands up those who didn't know it was there................. Type 3 propshaft owners are exempt from this question.

Mar 21st, 2008, 13:23	#4
Derek UK VOC Member Last Online: Yesterday 18:24 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chatham	After they stopped fitting grease nipples to the front suspension and steering joints about '64-'65, probably coincided with the facelift changes, the only one left was the one on the prop. Hardest to get to, so out of sight, out of mind. Worthwhile doing it though. Some UJ's have a screwed plug at the centre of the "cross" that can be exchanged for a grease nipple for topping them up. Not enough clearance to keep the nipple there usually so the screw goes back in afterwards. Again, rarely done.

Mar 22nd, 2008, 20:31	#5
Andrew (UK) VOC Member Last Online: Dec 3rd, 2021 08:39 Join Date: Jan 1970 Location: Sutton, near Ely	I just fitted new UJs to my prop shaft. They came with zerk fittings (grease nipples). When fitted correctly (took a couple of tries on one of the UJs, ahem) there seemed to be enough clearance so that there is no contact possible. The yokes have a relief on one side to allow for this. Andrew PS no zerk fitting on the sliding joint for me.

Apr 10th, 2008, 12:44	#6
Quarterless Master Member Last Online: Jan 3rd, 2024 19:13 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Essex	I had a similar knocking noise. Turned out to be the handbrake mechanism in the rear drums. If you take the hub off see if the handbrake operating lever makes a knocking noise when you tap it. Mine did so I adjusted a spring clip that holds it in place which sorted it.

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