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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Rear wheel bearing/axle tube

Its 1966 Mk 11 with wire wheels.
Replaced the bearing, having to use the oven/fridge technique to get it in the hub and fitted it to the axle tube with Locktite 641 but it still failed the MOT on excessive play.The new bearing itself was very good. Spoke to MGOC technical who advised eliminating wheel/spline play by swapping wheels which I did, so I'm pretty sure the trouble lies with a worn axle tube.
Again MGOC suggested "shimming" it with a product called Easy-sleeve(not sure of the spelling) and speaking to local bearing stockist, they had something called Speedy sleeve.
I've never used this type of product but I wonder if anyone has any experience or any other suggestions before I have to start scouring the scrap-yards for a replacement axle( don't want to go there !)
Thanks,
Malcolm
M J Chapman

Was the bearing a loose fit on the axle tube?
Dave O'Neill 2

Hi, I had this issue on one of my rear wire wheels after I had to change a bearing for the MOT. It turned out that the play was between the hub and halfshaft so if the bearing was a tight fit it might be worth checking this out.

Thanks
Mark
Mark Whitmore

There are books with stuff about the speedy sleeve in, even photos....

However, the speedy sleeve is about repairing the surface the oil seal runs on and not the bearing surface. Most new bearings are rubbish and maybe someone will recommend a bearing that isn't.

A replacement axle casing is probably cheaper than a double bearing hub conversion but the latter will get the job done (ask for a wire wheel specific conversion kit). Did I mention there are books with this stuff in?

I suppose it would also be possible to have the axle casing metal sprayed.
Daniel Thirteen-Twelve

Dave -"Was the bearing a loose fit on the axle tube?"
Well yes, I suppose it was - it went on pretty easily and when I took it off again to check it, it only needed acouple of turns on the bearing puller before it fell off.
And I forgot to mention, I've got a big 1 7/8 socket so I could do up that retaining nut pretty tight.
M J Chapman

Hi Malcolm

Not sure what is happening here.

Firstly I have to disagree with Daniel I am afraid. Modern bearings are far from rubbish, modern manufacturing techniques ensure the products available today are at least as good as many years ago and normally better. There are problems with bearings for our cars however that are as a consequence of specification changes which means exact replicas are NOT available.
However this is NOT the case with the rear axle bearings and these should normally be fine. I suspect your old bearing was also fine but the problem was misdiagnosed as a bearing fault which in fact it isn't (easy to do!)

So where is the problem?

The bearing contacts 2 surfaces and a poor fit on either surface would cause "play"

First the fit into the hub? you have stated that was a tight (good) fit, not sure of the oven and fridge technique however, a good drift is a far better technique. So that appears to be OK

Second the fit onto the axle casing? I would imagine if the play was here then the hub would "fall" off the axle as soon as the locknut was released. Again you have suggested that you had to use a puller?

Lets assume then that the problem is not with the axle, hub or bearing. Is it possible then that the spline is so badly worn that the play is between the wheel and the hub spline?

To determine this problem more without the halfshaft inserted can you feel any play in the hub on the axle? This does require a fair bit of feel!

When the halfshaft is in and bolted up and wheel on can you feel the play?

Just for a test (let me stress for a test only)
You could remove both half shafts and try the loose one into the otherside and see if the play transfers to the other side (assuming you can feel it yourself) if it does then it is a fair bet that it is the same as Mark's problem or the hub spline is totally trash!
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

By the way I have a spare wire wheel axle case if you require one. However not sure you need one yet.

Sadly I don't drink too much so beer tockens are not welcome :) but a bit of cash is always a help.
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

Robert - thanks for your thoughts - I'll try your suggested diagnostics tomorrow
M J Chapman

Top marks to Robert and Mark - the play was between the half-shaft and the hub flange. I followed Robert's way of thinking and devised the following procedure ( I know, I know - I've got my anorak on !!)
1. Confirm spinners are on tight
2. Chock front wheels, jack rear wheels clear of the ground and release handbrake.
3.check for play in "bad" n/s wheel with wheel on
- about 1/8th top to bottom and side to side
4. Check "good" o/s wheel
- no play
5. Remove both rear wheels and check for play on n/s by waggling the splined hub
- just discernable movement between brake drum and back plate
6. Remove brake drums and withdraw both halfshafts
7. Feel for play between half shaft and hub
- just discernable rotational play and about 1/8th axial play when held vertically
8.Swap bad halfshaft/hub to good side, re-assemble with wheel and check for play
- yes, there it is, the play has been transferred !

So, can I assume that the halfshaft will be harder than the hub and that the wear will be confined to the hub ?
Assuming that is the case,how hard will it be to fit a new hub to my halfshaft.
Thanks,
Malcolm(not having nightmares about removing the axle) Chapman
M J Chapman

Great news Malcolm, sadly I have cost myslf the sale of my axle casing, guess thats why I don't work for the MGOC. LOL.

Anyway the halfshaft is a press fit into the splined hub. I have assembled one of these on the odd occassion with a BFH. Not really to be advised but did do the job. A far better way is to use a press and push the halfshaft into the splined hub..

Normally the spline on the outside of the hub wears and we change the hub to stop the rear wheels from cluncking but the problem you have is different and the shaft is loose on the hub So you will not need to push this out as it will no doubt fall out.

I strongly suspect that the wear will be in the splined hub and the halfshaft should be fine. I also think this will be obvious when you take it apart, certainly when you get a new hub you will then find out if it is a press fit again ::)
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

This thread was discussed between 17/03/2011 and 18/03/2011

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