Back axle issues - pls can anyone advise
Discussion
Am hoping someone has had a similar prob and can advise. On my first Caterham, I'm a relatively new owner of a 2001 '7' with a live axel that's developed a 'clunking' from the rear axle area.
It started a couple of months ago when engaging 1st if you were a bit heavy on the clutch, but has evolved to doing it when engaging 2nd/3rd. If driving along in whatever gear with no throttle, the clunking will also happen if you do anything other that very gently nudge the throttle.
I'm guessing it's a bearing in the diff or one of the universal joints, but not sure if there is a particular joint that tends to go on live axles.
Also, does anyone know of anyone within a 20 mile radius of Camberley that may be able to undertake this work for me ?
Thanks in anticipation
It started a couple of months ago when engaging 1st if you were a bit heavy on the clutch, but has evolved to doing it when engaging 2nd/3rd. If driving along in whatever gear with no throttle, the clunking will also happen if you do anything other that very gently nudge the throttle.
I'm guessing it's a bearing in the diff or one of the universal joints, but not sure if there is a particular joint that tends to go on live axles.
Also, does anyone know of anyone within a 20 mile radius of Camberley that may be able to undertake this work for me ?
Thanks in anticipation
Sounds like a UJ on the propshaft, though noises are notoriously difficult to diagnose over the internet, so it could conceivably be a bush that's broken up (the a-frame bushes at the bottom of the diff are well known for having a very short lifespan).
Either is easy enough to both diagnose and fix yourself, if you're at all mechanically minded. Propshaft UJ can be checked by getting under the car and rotating the propshaft back and forth by hand, whilst observing the UJ. A-frame bushes I'd replace automatically, to be honest, as if they haven't failed yet, they soon will, so you might as well do them while you're under the car. It will be obvious from the condition of the old bush whether that was your problem, though.
Either is easy enough to both diagnose and fix yourself, if you're at all mechanically minded. Propshaft UJ can be checked by getting under the car and rotating the propshaft back and forth by hand, whilst observing the UJ. A-frame bushes I'd replace automatically, to be honest, as if they haven't failed yet, they soon will, so you might as well do them while you're under the car. It will be obvious from the condition of the old bush whether that was your problem, though.
It is quite likely to be the rear A frame bushes where it is fixed to the axle. This is very common on the live axle car specially if there is any oil on the bush as it then falls apart. The good news is that the bushes are very cheap and easy to replace and if you dont want to do it yourself probably the nearest repair place to Camberley is James Whiting at Staines. I havent used him myself but he does come highly recommended on blatchat. The other possibility is to visit your local area meeting of the Lotus seven club and Im sure there will be people there who can do it for you for a pint. I dont know which is your nearest meeting as Im no longer a member but I think you can find out from blatchat where they meet and when. It really is very easy to do.
Uncle Albert said:
All...thankyou very much for your comments, looks like I'm off to replace the bush on the A frame - which on closer inspection is covered in oil. Being a total novice, would anyone be able to suggest the best place to buy parts such as the bush for the A frame please ?
Ahem...Caterham parts perhaps?
https://www.caterhamparts.co.uk/index.php?cPath=99...
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