paul_w

Thanks Comp - I think it's going to be easier to do it myself, seems like there's nothing unexpected. I've done axles in other cars over the years so hopefully will be fine with this one :-) I will consider the Rakeway in time, I might even decide I want to go Grads racing if my other circuit project gets canned (which is looking likely with an impending house move!) Just got to find the time to get back up to Wales now...

Thanks Marc, good to know yours hasn't got much worse since the first noises, might mean it's fine to drive mine down south to get it sorted. I've seen other people who've converted to Ford, Ian, but as far as I can see the Ford axles are pretty pricey these days, and by the time I'm done reconditioning it and fitting the LSD, plus hubs and wheels I'll probably have spent the same kind of money, and certainly more time. I've only got 100bhp anyway, so the Ital should hold up with the mods - the English axle can have the same surge issues anyway, I think it's just stronger so less affected. If I was looking at big power in the future then I'd think about it, but I'd be more likely to buy a quicker (DD) car than get into engine swaps I think. Corby Motorsport had an offer on the Quaife units, so I've ordered one, and then will work out how and where I'm sorting the rest out! I've looked at more pics and I'm confident I can baffle the casing myself, so I might get R&R to do the diff and fit the ATB (they were happy for me to order from somewhere else as they don't make anything on them) and I'll sort the rest when I get time...

Cheers - been on the phone to R&R and after we'd got past the fact I should have just bought a DD car (yes, I know that now...) they were really helpful and can do the repair and fit the ATB for reasonable money. However, they'd never got involved in baffling the axle and did figure I'd break it again going sideways if I didn't take steps to keep the oil on the CWP. They've suggested Redline might have done it before and are near them. They also advised against driving it down south with it whining as it is... So more phone calls tomorrow to find out about baffling. I suspect it's the kind of thing I could do myself - haven't found pics of ital ones, but there are some Datsun pics here: http://datsun1200.com/uploads/photos/15737.jpg Which look like what I'm aiming for, so may end up pulling the axle in Wales and doing it myself if I can get some time up there soonish.

hmm. if they are just going to remove it and send it I might as well do that myself I suppose. I didn't get a chance to make any calls today but will try a few people tomorrow. Do you know if yours has been baffled Clive?

so no Rakeway - what I'm looking for is: - New CWP - Quaife ATB - baffles in axle - Shimming Then I need to make sure I overfill and use additive Am I missing anything?

Thanks Clive, I'll give them a call to see if they know their axles from their elbows :-D

Thanks for all the advice chaps, should have done a bit more research *before* thrashing the treads off it, but you live and learn, eh? I overfilled it through the breather today and took it out and the noise was back as soon as it got warm, so will definitely need sorting. Demon Tweeks seem to have a sale on Quaife units at the moment so maybe the timing isn't so bad, as long as the other half doesn't find out (the conversation where I revealed I'd bought a 7 without telling her went surprisingly well, but I suspect one where I tell her I've broken it already probably won't...) I have read about the Rakeway set up the Grads cars use, and although they don't publish a price I gather it's pretty expensive - is this likely to be overkill? Sounds like yours is strong enough Clive - could you give me an idea as to how much the total cost was (I am bracing myself...) Anyone know of a specialist in North Wales who might be able to do the work? I still don't have anywhere to store it in London so it's still in my parents garage in Colwyn Bay :-/

Had a great day sliding about childishly at Throckmorton yesterday, and the car didn't seem to be suffering so I carried on to my heart's content. However, on the run back as soon as I got above 40 the axle starting whistling and whining very noticeably. Didn't seem to make any difference if I was cornering or not, if that helps with diagnosis? It's an open diff and I spent much of the day sideways with the tyres spinning (something I intend to do much more of based on how enjoyable it was, so if it needs upgrading to allow this, then I'd better get it sorted!) Can anyone suggest what I might have done and the best way to remedy? I am going to add plenty of oil and run it today to see if it quietens down but I'm guessing that's unlikely. an LSD was high up my wish list so will it be easiest to just hand it over to someone for rebuild and mods or can you do this at home easily enough? Cheers Paul

Thanks Andrew, much appreciated to get a direct comparison - next time I'm with the car I'll eliminate the ARB from my enquiries and speak to Simon about a set of springs. I think I'm going to want to go on one of his Curborough days anyway... Paul

Thanks Simon - I'm probably going to end up playing with springs at some point as the car is sitting slightly lopsided (though my first check will be the ARB in case it's got a twist - mind you any work on it is very intermittent as the car is 250 miles away!) - it currently has the blue springs if that means anything? I noticed that the Bilstein conversion CC offer has progressive springs at the back - I guess on a light car where you sit over the axle that option probably makes sense to take into account different loads.

Hello - have been reading old threads on here and PH about live axle handling and the effects of the shocks bending in roll and causing friction. My live axle Classic is much bouncier in turns on Welsh mountain roads than I'd imagined it would be compared to my Dad's DD car, even with a heavy passenger on board, which should bring the sprung/unsprung weight ratio not far off that of a single person DD car. Yet when in a long smooth constant radius bend or roundabout the car seems to take a set and grip astoundingly. Does this sound like it could be the side loading on the shocks I'm feeling? Or something else? If anyone has direct experience of the switch to spherical bearings for the lower joint I'd be keen to hear how effective it is. And has anyone converted standard shocks with something like these? http://www.astbearings.com/maintenance-free-spherical-plain-bearings.html I know the easy option is to just spend the money on Avos or similar with a rose joint, but the shocks are in good nick and I'd be interested to just change one variable at a time. Cheers Paul (edited for link to better range of bearings...)

Hi James If your car is a De Dion and has the Ford PCD, then the closest thing is (bizarrely) a Citroen Berlingo steel wheel: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CITROEN-BERLINGO-2002-STEEL-WHEEL-AND-TYRE-175-65-14/251817599812 Which is a 14 like the 160's, plus the offset isn't far off at 18mm (though I think there are some variations with model year) unlike the FWD Fords. If you want 13s there are loads about like the ones Elie has posted above, Mk1/2 Cortina and Anglia wheels, Hillman Hunter as well, and I think some Austins - there were Austins with up to 16" rims on a Ford pattern but they're not easy to find. If you get some let me know how you get on and what tyres you plump for, I've just bought some Triumph steels for my Classic. Paul