Triumph TR3-Rear Hub Bearing Replacement?

Time in Garage Tuesday: none

Picking up parts: 20 mins

Tuesday was a strange day for me energy wise. I must have been heavy into hibernation mode (might be the result of all the snow that fell on the weekend) as I was not really not "motivated" to do automotive work or much of anything else... I was also distracted by other "value added" activities like going for a very relaxing and therapeutic massage that took a couple of hours (including travel time), cooking dinner and practicing my drawing. Also an errand that I need to run took much longer than anticipated....Everything contributed to me not migrating out to the garage during the day.... In the evening I ended the day sitting on the couch watching TV for a couple of hours (Speed Vision mainly-at least it was car related???)......I realize it is not the most productive use of my time but a "low energy" passive activity that took priority...I should probably cut myself some slack and get back put into the garage today and make up for some lost time......what has passed has passed!!

In the afternoon I made my way up to the suspension shop to retrieve my hub washer that was missed when I picked up my axles last week....

In an e-mail response from one of my suppliers they indicated rear hub bearing failure is a rarity in TR3's and as such they do not stock bearings. Cost for replacements are in the $70 each range..I am thinking about pulling the axles out of the other rear end to see what condition they are in? While driving around yesterday I was also thinking about spending the $140 for the replacement bearings in the context that we recently paid Honda $550 for a valve adjustment and new spark plugs (for example labor was approx $25 per plug for removal and installation) for my wife's Fit-so the cost of the new bearing doesn't seem that unreasonable...

More decisions to be made today....

Triumph TR3-Critical Path Review

Time in Garage Monday-None

I took the day off yesterday. I had planned to do some clean up of the workspace and rear hubs but ended up doing nothing. I did call my local bearing supplier to see if the rear hub bearing were available. The cone is but it is very expensive-the race is not available in Canada. I made an e-mail enquiry with my Triumph parts suppliers on bearing availability-no word back yesterday. I may contact my brother today who has contacts in the bearing industry and see what he can do?

I did a quick estimate of the tasks remaining to finish off the chassis to rolling status.

Right hand suspension assembly 4 hrs

Front disk brake install 6 hrs includes repacking the front brgs

Hand brake installation 2 hrs

Rear hub bearings and seals 4 hrs

Rear brake assemble install 2 hrs

Clean up and paint driveshaft 4 hrs

clean up and inspect transmission 4 hrs

find engine mounts and install 2 hrs (for some reason my purchased engine mounts are missing?)

reconnect brake lines 3 hrs

misc 2 hrs like installing wheels, transmission mount etc

33 hrs

I wasn't able to meet my critical path tasks for the month of February although I did spend a fair amount of time in the garage. My estimates for painting the remaining chassis components was was way off. Also the complication of the worn trunnion slowed down the reassembly of the front suspension. 33 hrs is a considerable amount of time left pending but if I keep my head down perhaps I can catch up a bit...

Triumph TR3-Quality Garage Time

Time in Garage Saturday: 3-1/2 hrs

Time in Garage Sunday: 4 hrs

List of Completed tasks:

1. installed rear differential, shocks and axle straps-took about 2 hours to complete ( a bit challenging to do single handed-a combination of my body weight,jack stands and floor jack were required to compress the leaf springs enough to get the u-bolt nuts started). Interestingly I dropped one of u-bolt nuts and ended up not being able to find it in the immediate area. Today I am going to do a sweep and hopefully it will turn up. I used another nut to tighten down the U-bolt which I will replace when the original nut turns up.(or I buy a new one)...

2. Laid out all the front end components that are yet to be installed just to make sure everything is accounted for....(it is) Still awaiting my parts delivery-my wife is spending an extra day away and won't be back until tomorrow at the earliest..

3. Installed the right hand shock hardware and did a trial fit in the lower wishbone-all A-OK.

4. Removed the rear hub bearing races. The bearings need replacing.

5. Repainted the front body hold down plates and related hardware....

6. Decided to wipe down (cleanliness is next to godliness!!!) the powder coated chassis and remove some paint splatter. The chassis has been gathering sanding dust and dirt for over a year and was looking a little "ratty". I had used covers to protect the chassis when I was painting the underside of the body but for some reason in a couple of places there was splatter...the specks of paint removed easily (although it did take longer than I anticipated-all the time I was having an inner dialog about making sure I am more careful next time!!-ha ha). The chassis looks much more impressive clean...

All round a good couple of days in the man cave....

Triumph TR3-More Painting,Parts Pickup and Rear Bearing Inspection

Time in Garage on Friday: 1-1/2 hours (includes 1/2 hour reading manuals)

Picking up parts-1/2 hour

Spent: $2.40

First thing Friday morning I inspected my paint job on the shock absorber brackets, spindle etc. I determined another coat of paint was in order so I sprayed the parts in two phases. I am now satisfied they are fit for purpose. Based on my discomfort with the nylon lock nuts for the rear differential U-bolts I purchased a few weeks ago I determined to get a more robust solution. I purchased grade 8 nuts ( I don't recall what they are called but they have tapered threads that lock down the nut as the nut is tightened down-they can only be used once) and washers. I am now set to go. I read up on replacing the stub axle seals and hub seals and did a quick inspection of one of the removed rear axle bearing...it has been recommended I change them out. I have yet to drive out the race from the rear hub to see what the number is ?

I was not overly motivated to work in the garage yesterday, a low energy day....

Triumph TR3-Rear Shock/Axle Straps/Spindle Painted/Rear Hubs Removed

Time in Garage Thursday: 1-1/2 hrs

Purchases $360 approx

Finished off painting the rear shock brackets/axle straps and spindle. Picked up the removed rear hubs. Some concerns around condition of one of the axles. Doing some more analysis today. All the remaining parts orders came in. I will have the rotors/caliper brackets and trunnion delivered on Sunday when my wife returns home. Purchased 2 more cans of spray paint. Chassis Black and Super Primer...

triumph TR3-Primer Application/Rear Hub Removal Challenge

Time in Garage Wednesday: 3 hrs

Delivery of Axles For Hub Disassembly: 30 mins

I finished applying the primer to the two rear shock absorber brackets, the remaining front steering arm and the right hand side spindle. I also coated all the rear axle hub mounting hardware and the refurbished hub grease cap. I sprayed the primer in 35 min segments-so out to the garage-spray-leave right after-set the oven timer-timer goes off-go back to the garage-move the parts to expose unpainted surfaces-spray and leave again-etc etc until 2 coats were applied. I ended up spending another hour prepping the shock absorber brackets as there were some areas I was not happy with when I did the final Metal Prep application. I also reattached the rotor bolts and repainted front wheel lugs to the front hubs-everything looks good. I also temporarily attached the adjustment mechanisms to the rear brake plates-just to see how they looked installed.

I decided to take my axles up to a suspension shop I did some previous business with. I think they are a competent shop and do lots of work on special interest cars... The hubs are not coming off easily which is a bit of a concern. Today will bring more news as to whether the overnight soak in penetrating oil will make the difference? They are recommending changing out the bearings which is probably a good idea...

Triumph TR3-Axles Removed/Some Painting

Time in Garage Tuesday: 1 hr

Daydreaming and Scheming: 1 hr

Removed and tagged the rear axles for hub removal, cleaned up the rear hub/axle hardware in the Eastwood tumbler, squirted on another coat of black paint on the front hubs and applied a coat of primer to assorted fasteners.

Received notification of the Moss Motors super sale and downloaded the installation instructions for the rack and pinion steering mechanism...I think I should order it before the March deadline and get the 10% off...more pondering required on this...

Still contemplating the sale of the '57..