A few weeks ago, the little noise from my rear got worse. After doing some talking to others and reading some internet postings, it appeared that the likely candidate were the stub axle bearings. So I drop the rear and drain the gear oil into a plastic pan that I placed a magnet in. Some fine metal particles show up. Not a lot; maybe enough to make a BB. And probably enough to grind away at the other bearings and gears..........
I also pull the right side stub axle and have a look at the bearings and races. Show signs of wear, but I don't have a clue of when or if the thing has ever been rebuilt. (I'm the third owner of this 26 year old car.)
From the picture below, it appears that the year of the rear is 69. The stub axle bearings used by Jaguar were ball bearings between the years of 69 thru 73, and the ones in my rear end are the ball type. These ball bearings are no longer available. Some internet postings say that the later '74-'87, '76-'87, and '89-'95 XJS tapered roller bearings are direct replacement.
I call Butch Capps and he confirms that replacement ball bearings are no longer available. He also stated that "some" of these vintage rears will not accept the later tapered roller bearings. He couldn't say which ones, but would be glad to rebuild my rear end if it is one that would accept the newer bearing. If it can't, the rear is junk.
I know that Butch is considered the Jag rear guru, and I don't doubt his knowledge or statements. I'm just asking if anyone else has ever been down this road, or knows someone who has that may be able to identify the rear by the info in the photo to determine if this rear can be rebuilt using the later tapered roller bearings.
If not, and the rear is toast, anyone know of a source of rebuilt rears or used ones suitable for rebuild? (Butch rebuilds for Unique, but does not stock rebuilt or rebuildable cores)
- Jim -
Jim Harding
#4279512 - SA452 - TKO600
#3004 - 302 - 4 speed
La Plata, Maryland
Hmmmmm guess no one has ever had issues like this. Consider yourselves lucky! This has become a frustrating experience getting conflicting information from various sources of what I can do to repair this rear end.
Hey Alan, would you by chance have a rear end assembly gathering dust around your place? I'm getting to the point where a flange to flange replacement is getting more attractive. :-)
Jim Harding
#4279512 - SA452 - TKO600
#3004 - 302 - 4 speed
La Plata, Maryland
Do the bearings have a number on them? I'm thinking that an industrial bearing supply house (Applied Industrial, for example) should be able to get the correct bearings, even if Jag and the car parts places have discontinued them. If there's a number of any type, they should be able to cross reference it via computer or book. It can then be verified by OD, ID, etc.
Even without a number, if you can find a "dang good ol' machinist" or machine design guy around, they can probably match it with a set of calipers and a Dodge (not the automobile company) bearing book. Or, if you can find an "on-the-ball" bearing sales rep somewhere.
I work with a guy (originally from Gadsden, interestingly enough) who has done mechanical design for 42 years, and he went through this ordeal on the wheel bearings for his '73 Mercedes convertible. Get this - Mercedes had the b**ls to GRIND the bearing numbers off the original bearings before assembly!!! That was their way of being absolutely sure that you came back to Mercedes for parts & service. So, my friend breaks out the calipers, micrometer, and bearing book, and just hunted down the bearings he needed as if he were building a new machine. I was/am in awe. (He's also an amputee who has built his own prosthetic legs for the last 30 years or so!!!)
(I'd tell you that I could do it, but the fact is that I'm just not that talented or experienced in the machine design realm; I've worked more with construction engineering.)
Anyhow, maybe this will help you out. Best of luck with it!
Thanks for the tip Phil. CWI is one that I haven't spoke too, but have read several articles by them that state that the tapered roller bearing is a direct replacement. The cost of the new bearings are pennies compared to a new center section, so I might just pick up a set to see how they fit. The only thing that concerns me are the shims that need to be fitted to be with in their tolerances. I think the OD and ID of the bearings are the same, but the length is the issue. Need to do more studying on this.
Zach, I'm sure that somewhere on this planet someone has a bearing on their shelf that will slip in there with no problems. Like you said, the search will be more of an effort than the repair time.
Over the decades that Jag has produced this type IRS, it has made some little revisions to it that make hunting down the correct fitting part a nightmare for anyone who does not do this on a regular basis. You'll see references to early, late, style A or style B, series this or series that, and you're left scratching your head wondering what it all means. I think I'm up to four different part numbers for the stub axle bearing, and as many suggestions from vendors telling me that this is the one I need. This is why I'm getting to the point of just throwing up my hands and replacing the whole thing. I've never let something like this get the best of me, but for some reason this one is really kicking my butt.
Jim Harding
#4279512 - SA452 - TKO600
#3004 - 302 - 4 speed
La Plata, Maryland
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