This thread isn't helping my 'must have a P71' automotive bucket list any. Nice score!
Oh, and looking like a cop car probably had something to do with the mirror being ripped off...
This thread isn't helping my 'must have a P71' automotive bucket list any. Nice score!
Oh, and looking like a cop car probably had something to do with the mirror being ripped off...
Well I'm back from the Back to the Big Easy rally. A really great week overall with some very scary moments that we can now look back on and laugh a bit since all ended well. More rally stuff in the thread over in the adventure section later. But now let's look at the damage totals :)
Ran and drove great but the day before we left I started noticing a roational noise. Quick check of the wheel bearings seemed fine so I turned up the radio.
Due to unforseen circumstances we ended up driving the Tail of the Dragon at night, interesting experience. But I wasn't feeling the love for my front brakes. So the next day some parts were obtained and a parking lot brake job (fronts only) was done. Bearing inspection while in there showed good so I was hoping maybe it was the brakes causing the noise.
Sorry just one photo, it was hot and I was just trying to get the job done, new pads and rotors installed to replace this mess. Less than 1/8th left on the old pads.
Sadly the noise persisted. Made it to New Orleans and picked up 2 passengers for the trip home one 4 legged, on 2 legged.
Drove to NC to drop off our 4 legged hitchiker and continued on to VA where we stopped around midnight. Old noise was still there, joined by a new one I couldn't quite figure. Quick checks showed no visible issues.
Finally arrived home yesterday, AC was freezing up on us a bit on the last day so after some rest I went to go poke around for the drain to clear it. Then I saw the oil.
Lots of oil
Rear axle seal had failed and no doubt it was the bearing that was causing all the noise. My only unknown now is how long it had been leaking. No leaks were noted the previous evening but we had driven 400 on the final day.
Today was triage.
Yep, that's a bad rear axle.
I considered just throwing an offset bearing in there and leaving it because it is just a beater but I couldn't bring myself to do it and Im waiting on the new axle to arrive at the FLAPS now
Thankfully the drivers side axle was fine.
When I opened up the rear diff there was still fluid thankfully and the gears look good.
I think the parking brakes are past their limit though ;)
Through everything else going on I had almost forgotten that the reason my Marauder has been parked for 3 months aside from needing tires is that it was making a very similar noise. I guess I'll plan on tearing into that soon too, but maybe when there's a cool day on the horizon, its mid 90s with a 100 degree heat index out there right now and my shop is too trashed to pull it in to work (not that it would help with the heat that much)
Ok, so parts arrived, and the reassembly ensues.
Mmmm...sparkly bits
Old and busted vs new hotness. Quite literally...left it sit in the sun too long and had to put it inside to cool off so I could hold it.
Side note, the axle came with a new bearing so I only bought one new one for the other side. The bearing that came with it was crap. It didnt feel like it was going in right so I tried to tap it back out for another shot with the bearing puller and it shattered. Back to the FLAPS for a good bearing.
New parking brakes that might actually do something now.
and cap it off with some new brakes.
You could maybe Autocross it.
chada75 wrote: You could maybe Autocross it.
Nahh, I have a kart and a Marauder which would both be better autocrossers :)
To be honest it's renewed my interest in banger rallying so it will stay my DD and be my at the ready banger rally beast. Doing some light reading now and thinking of mapping out and following the rout that F. Scott Fitzgerald took back in the day
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