Club 80-90 Forums

I've found a bit of play in one of mine, so I just want to know, are they adjustable or is it a replace only job?

Not adjustable, often play is just in one plane, vertically, due to wear of bearing housing.

Snap! I have play in mine (sorry to hi-jack thread)
but I dont have any noise coming from it... do I need to zap
mine out too...?

I've had play in mine for the last 4 years.
I think they come with play built in.

The MOT man said "ignore it until it really whines"

Leave then... Up to the point is starts to hum, drone (actual bearings) or the play just gets too much, which it can eventually... but if its just a slight top-to-bottom rock with no real side-to-side play then leave it I think... having 'done' several and they still rock vertically! Pretty sure this is the rear (ball-bearing) outer race rocking in the housing that has slightly ovalled - if you do change the bearing(s) then clean up the shoulder this sits againts if any burrs at all, drive outer race well home and use Loctite Bearing Fit or similar, having fully degreased the housing and outer race first..

Some also have innate in-out play, again, it's been suggested to leave unless excessive, can't work out where this comes from unless again, it's wear/fretting of the housing/retainer circlip.

Methinks a lot of this is that the original design was for the Bays with 13" wheels, we are now often using 15" wheels and the Syncros of course give them an extra hammering at times.

further to my comment / question:
my 'play' was down to the hub nut not being anywhere near 500Nm, more like finger tight at best !! I then took the hub nut off, removed old seal (replaced with new one) and packed the bearing (outer).
It seemingly has taken up the 'side to side' play so im chuffed!
(maybe first check should be the tightness of the nut rather than expect the worst?) Any thoughts??

Ok, I've gone back and checked mine, and theres a good bit of up and down play, but not much side to side. The bearings don't whine though, it's just theres a bit of a wobble through the van and the steering wheel, more apparent at low speeds. I can't find a lump on tyres, and it seems to be coming from the offside of the van as when I turn a LH corner then the wobble increases. What I will say, it there's a bit of play in the steering arm on that side, but not as much as the rear wheel bearing.
As a matter of interest, can you buy new bearing housings?

Check your driveshafts carefully too. If you do decide to replace bearings, do both sides.

Any thoughts??

Yes, if you're definitely talking the rear 46mm nut!

1) Forgot to tighten it.. (sort of forgiveable)

2)) Didn't know these should be 350 ft. lbf. (having had to undo it )

This design has been around for several decades, is sort of famous, the nut size is, the torque is, the welly to get one undone is, the obvious need to compress the inner races and the spacer, so whoever left that loose..

3) Redstar, check it again in a few weeks or so for play and nut tightness, should be OK, but if you don't know why it was not tight... ?.... something might be amiss in there.

Yes, good point about the driveshafts, Wiki'd

Those outer CVJs should be looked at closely and re-packed or replaced at the same time, and as the back-plate comes off a good opportunity to service (clean and rust-treat) the brake-backplate and in fact, clean and check the brakes generally.
Always have a very good look at the brake pipe that runs across the top of the radius arm, particularly where it sits in the plastic clip - I had one burst there
Brush it down and take a good look for any pitting corrosion that has got a hold, 99% might look fine, but...

I had to replace them when i bought mine and had it inspected. Replaced them and still had play. Less but still some. And i borrowed a mega torque wrench so they are tight and to spec.