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MG MGA - U Joint Washers

On the MGA 1600 type driveshaft, with the flange at each end, the front flange has spring washers. The rear flange does not. Image attached.
Any ideas why?


Mick
M F Anderson

Here is the image from the Service Parts List. Washers are item 16, shown between the bolt and the self locking nut.


Mick

M F Anderson

Mick, As the spring washer is only used on the front flange, I would suggest it is an extra precaution to ensure that the nylocks don't let go.
If the rear bolts let go, and the shaft drops, it is not as seriously dangerous as if the front bolts fail.
Just a theory. Barry
BM Gannon

Mick,
It seems that in some areas, MG uses spring washers as spacers even when there are nylocks or equivalent shakeproof nuts, ie, they result in less bolt thread being exposed to the elements. Some bolts, for example, on the front cross member have spring washers and nylocks.
Anyone else have a theory on this?
Peter.
P. Tilbury

I like Barry's Health and Safety answer. Totally logical but unlikely to have been at the fore front of minds on production lines in those days. I wonder if it's just a case of the guy bolting up the front end doing it differently to the guy at the other end? Just remember that in 1955 there was no such thing as quality accreditation and written processes. You were probably given 5 minutes instruction and told to get on with it. Different instructors/supervisors possibly gave different instructions. I remember hearing stories that they were on piece work. Often they would leave bolts out etc so as to get more items down the line in their shift. Also remember that almost every MGA had to go back onto a rectification line after it came off the main production line.

Steve
Steve Gyles

I agree that quality control at the MG factory was not as good as it should have been, but here we are discussing factory documentation.
When the MGA 1500 started using the flange at the front of the driveshaft the Service Parts List shows that four flat washers PWZ205 were fitted, with nyloc nuts, to the front flange. They were not fitted to the rear flange. The 2nd edition of the Twin Cam SPL also shows these flat washers.
With the MGA 1600 and the 3rd edition of the Twin Cam SPL the washers became the spring type LWZ205.
This does not appear to be a simple drawing mistake as it states that there are only four washers and that they are for the front flange only.

Mick
M F Anderson

I like Barry's idea also ,but isn't there some cross braces in the tunnel near the hand brake that would keep the shaft from dropping? Mines in a bag for the winter so I can't look.
gary starr

Yes Gary, there are 2 sheet metal brackets that mount inside the tunnel that prevent the driveshaft from dropping.

My car has the front slide connection so I have nothing to look at. My guess for no washer in the rear is, and it is only a guess, there was no room in to add the lockwasher between the rear of the flange and the differential casting. Or a washer would have required a longer bolt that didn't fit in the space. I don't feel like going out to look to see if this is plausable or not.
C Schaefer

Won't be long now Chuck,half way decent out today
gary starr

This thread was discussed between 03/03/2009 and 05/03/2009

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