Moss Motors, Ltd

Our Sites: Moss USA | Moss Europe
Welcome to Moss Motors, Ltd Sign in | Join | Help
in Search

Broken Differential or Axel

Last post 05-21-2008, 1:14 PM by Alan. 9 replies.
Sort Posts: Previous Next
  •  05-14-2008, 7:04 PM 14392

    Broken Differential or Axel

    I think I have a broken axle or broken Differential, I jack up the car removed the drive shaft rotated both wheel but the differential did not move at all. If I broke an axel by rotating the wheels I would think the differential would turn with at lest on one good axel ( I do not think I could have broken both axels at once). Also when I hookup the drive shaft to just the differential I can not turn it by hand it binds up. Any thoughts as what it is?

     

    Also any ideas on how to pull the wire wheel axels off. I removed everything brakes even removed bolts holding the backing plate but the axel will not move it does turn freely but will not pull out. Is there a secret to it?

  •  05-14-2008, 7:06 PM 14393 in reply to 14392

    Re: Broken Differential or Axel

    Sorry wrong group
  •  05-15-2008, 5:28 AM 14400 in reply to 14393

    Re: Broken Differential or Axel

    Might be the wrong group, but that doesn't mean we won't try to help out! Smile  It does sound like there is a problem in the differential. It sounds like the carrier assembly has siezed and can't rotate, but the spider gears are still free and both axles are intact. If the carrier doesn't turn then the axles can turn through the side and spider gears in opposite directions, or they may turn independantly if the spider gears are no longer meshed. I suspect that the pin which the spider gears turn on has come loose and jammed against the side of the housing, the spider gears broke and both side gears attached to the axles have nothing to mesh with. I think you're right, time to consult the manual, remove the axles and drop out the center housing and see what's wrong.
    '73 Midget (V6)
    '59 MGA (I6) under construction

    "There is a fine line between a hobby and mental illness"
  •  05-15-2008, 7:45 PM 14418 in reply to 14400

    Re: Broken Differential or Axel

    Bill thanks for the quick reply

     

    Do you know if the hub assembly has to be taken apart in order to get the axel out? The reason I am asking is I have never pulled an axel out before and the manual I have is not clear on it. It just said get the largest slide hammer with puller jaws my local tool rental has to offer.

     

    I am a little hesitant to just start banging away.

  •  05-16-2008, 6:40 AM 14420 in reply to 14418

    Re: Broken Differential or Axel

    Alan, I'll try to work you through the process. I'll reference the parts by the Moss drawing number in their catalog which you can get here http://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=29295

    First you will have to remove the brake drum. It should be held on by 4 bolts (item 33A) and a small phillips head screw (not numbered in the drawing, but shown just below the disc wheel type axle) With the drum off and the bolts and screw removed the axle flange (item 34) and bearing cup (item 32)will seperate and the axle should slide out. This is where you may have to use a slide hammer, but usually they aren't too tight. You'll probably tear the gasket (item 35) but these are available. When you get the axles removed you will know right away if you've broken one or both. When the axles are clear of the center section, then you can unbolt the 8 nuts that hold it in place and remove it for inspection.

    What I suspect is that the small pin which retains the spider gear cross shaft (item 24) has broken and that shaft  has slid out of the carrier (not numbered but shown just above the yellow number 21) and jammed against the housing and the spider gears (items 22) have dropped out and allowed the axles to turn freely.

    Hope this helps, hard to describe all the bits and pieces.


    '73 Midget (V6)
    '59 MGA (I6) under construction

    "There is a fine line between a hobby and mental illness"
  •  05-19-2008, 11:19 AM 14441 in reply to 14420

    Re: Broken Differential or Axel

    Bill

    Thanks it was the pinion axel that broke the only gear that did not get munched up was the 3.90.1 gear so I am putting in a different pumpkin

     

  •  05-19-2008, 11:26 AM 14442 in reply to 14441

    Re: Broken Differential or Axel

    Bill

    When I pulled the drive shaft I marked it so I could bolt it back up the same place as it was. Now that I have a different pumpkin does it matter how I bolt up the drive shaft as there is no mark now. I assume the manual had me mark the original place for balance.

  •  05-20-2008, 9:00 AM 14476 in reply to 14442

    Re: Broken Differential or Axel

    Alan, now you've got me in a bad case of CRS. I don't remember any problem with bolting the drive shaft back up, seems like the bolt pattern is symetrical, but shouldn't affect balance. The real ballance problem comes with the two piece shaft used on the 1500s, if you take that apart you can get the joints out of phase and really cause vibration problems.


    '73 Midget (V6)
    '59 MGA (I6) under construction

    "There is a fine line between a hobby and mental illness"
  •  05-20-2008, 3:56 PM 14487 in reply to 14442

    Re: Broken Differential or Axel

    Alan,

    As long as the holes line up it makes no difference.


    Motorbill
    From Lola to Land Rover, If it's British and has wheels, it's likely I've bloodied me knuckles thereupon
  •  05-21-2008, 1:14 PM 14510 in reply to 14487

    Re: Broken Differential or Axel

    Thanks guys I should have it backup and running this weekend just waiting on seals and bearings to come in.