As per another post here, I have the differential out of a TR3 at the moment. I yanked it because in doing something else I felt a good bit of slack, very similar to what many here have encountered with their Bs.
The planetary gears are backed up by cup shaped copper thrust washers very much like a B, but the sun gears have metal thrust washers behind them. The copper things are smaller than the ones in a B and I found them rather worn, but the flat washers in the TR diff are metal, unlike the fiber ones in Bs. They were worn a little. They mic-ed at only two thou off of the OEM spec whereas if it was a B the fiber things would have disappeared by now.
My question is, does anyone know of a metal replacement for the Bs fiber washers? The TR ones look a little large in diameter for a B, but I won't know that for sure until I get a set in here in the next day or so for another B waiting on an axle rehab. Until then my question still stands.
Jack
differential washers ???
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Good point, Jack.
May be it is worth to try bronze washers (as used by wooden boat buildes) as the have wear characteristics like 304 stainless steel but do not gail.
I should give it a try next time, I think.
Funny enough when I did the GT's diff, it had metal rather than fiber flat washers. I left them since they were actually thicker than the replacement fiber ones that came in the kit.
When working on these cars I often run into mechanisms that make me wan't to have a talk with the designer; Why would any engineer think fiber was a good application in the MG rear end?
Pete
Simple - the load on the fiber washers is thrust, not rotational - and that load can be of the "shock" variety. In that application, a bronze or brass washer would become brittle and eventually break (like the thrust washer in the O/D) - so, in order to absorb some of the shock, a fiber washer is used which will also swell slightly with oil impregnation and keep the thrust movement to a minimum.
If you think about the way the diff works, the only relative movement between the gear and the washer is when the wheels are turning at different speeds - even then, the movement is not particularly "fast". The use of fiber washers was actually a good call by the design engineers!
Jack, any chance the metal flat side gear washers from a MGB banjo 3rd member would also fit the tube axle?
Can't tell Dave.
Haven't been into a banjo axle since forever.
Perhaps someone here with a banjo axle down will do some measuring..
Jack
Jack,
When I rebuilt the steel wheel rear end that I replaced my wire wheel rear end with, I saw no logic in the fiber washers, so I decided I'd take a chance and make some washers out of some copper plate I had lying around. that was a couple of years ago and, since theres no slop in the diff I assume they are still working.
Jack, I just measured a MGB banjo side gear thrust washer: 1.507"id, 2.504"od, .036" thick, A used part but serviceable.
I love you David.
Doing little things like that separates the men from the boys in this game and not too many play as well as you do.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Dave, I'll report back here when UPS has delivered the fiber ones.
Jack
Dana rear ends use mild steel washers that are very similar,but last practically forever.
Every diff that I have ever had apart, sans MGBs, have had steel washers. RAY
McMaster Car or Fastenal has a huge assortment of washers.
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