Prop balancing question

[Andrew S]

Just out of interest, how many of you have had your prop rebalanced after you have fitted new u/j's and more importantly, found it had to be rebalanced? I have replaced one with a GKN greasable joint and wondering if it needs balancing again and was going to take it along someone where in Essex to be checked.

The prop was brand new and made especially by Baily Morris in Cambridge and has no rubber sleeve in it. I noticed there was slight play in the rear u/j across the crucifix so replaced it. There is is still very slight play and I have thicker circlips from Bailys to replace the ones fitted.

Cheers
Andrew

[rare1]

yes just had mine done

[Andrew S]

Did yiu have it done because yiu replaced a u/j or was there a problem with it any way?

[thebadleys]

I had mine reconditioned by North West Propshafts who took one look and declared that it had S**t UJ's fitted, these were replace by PO repairer and the prop "balanced" some 4000 mile ago, apparently the quality of UJ's seems to be varied quality. They fit new UJ's and diff flange and balanced it and it is fine, said he'd never had a failure of bonding on this type of shaft !!

[Bassy]

Spooky this has come up , so at the risk of hijacking a thread I discovered that my cv jointed prop is , in the words of us london types, cattled.

After much reading and using the search which for some strange reason didn't immediately throw me to Edds resto it looks like many are unconvinced by cv jointed ones, and they are not serviceable as far as I can tell, so I am going to have to have one made up, or find a donor one and rebuild it. So if anyone has a MOD prop leaning against a wall shout.

[Lingen]

Andrew. I had the propshaft off mine recently to sort out some oil leaks on the gearbox. I took the opportunity to replace the UJs as they had been on there for over 20 years, and were a bit stiff in some positions. VERY foolishly I forgot to mark the relative position of the yokes before removing the joints. Having replaced the shaft on the car, I found it was almost undriveable. I took it to J.W. Engineering in Bexleyheath who had to reassemble it before they could get it to balance. It is now fine, but the moral of the story is to put everything back where you found it. Clearly a lot of "Selective assembly" went on when they were being made.
Mike.

[Andrew S]

Cheers Mike. I only replaced the rear one with a GKN greasable type and have done them before so hoping it's ok but want to get it checked anyway. I didn't take any other part apart so should still be aligned. I even marked the flange to ensure it went back the same way when fitting the joint.
I am going to contact JW too, were they reasonable?
Cheers
Andrew

[mike@thenook]

I've used JW Andrew and I can vouch for them being both competitive and very good at sorting such problems.

Cheers

[Andrew S]

Thanks Mike

[rare1]

had it all reconditioned I was knocking when pulling away done a great job,

[Lingen]

Andrew. Very pleasant. Mine cost £45 and they did it while I waited, which took about half an hour, so take a newspaper with you. There isn't much nearby in the way of entertainment.
There is no reason why fitting new joints should upset the balance provided everything else goes back exactly where it came from.
Mike.

[Andrew S]

Cheers Mike

[Westfaling]

Maybe a very basic item but have you made sure the front and rear U/Js are aligned with each other? If they aren't it will vibrate.
Nick

[Lingen]

Nick. Interesting one. If you have a parts manual, look at the drawings on pages 04-26 and 04-27. The manual one is aligned, and the auto at right angles. I asked the balancers about this and they said they can be either, but not something in between!
Mike.

[Andrew S]

Thanks Nick.
I had a brand new prop made w it hour a rubber sleeve some years ago by a reputable manufacturer. I have naturally presumed to balanced. Late last year I noticed slight sideways movement in the rear crucifix on the universal joint. Discussing it with the prop company, they advised and sent slightly thicker circlips to take up the end float. I removed the prop and just replaced it with a GKN greasable joint and for now, the sideways movement has gone. I know have a harshness when driving the car and it comes in at 35 and 60 mph so guessing prop is out. The trouble is, when I did this job I did other things such as replacing duff exhaust boxes, rebuilt diff bearings etc.
I have just had an op so not allowed to work on cars and writing out a plan to try and sort my issues. I also have near side engine mount that's split that needs doing
Cars eh?