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May 7, 2025

Rear Hubs

The MGA rear hubs each run on a single sizable ball bearing pressed on to the ends of the axle housing.

I pulled them off a couple of months ago.




The bearings had been replaced in my 70s work, and have very few miles on them, but they have to come out anyway to replace the seals.  Removing the studs makes cleaning the hub body easier.




The bodies got blasted and powder coated.  Also linished the mating surface flat.




The studs looked kind of rough, but cleaned up well, and got zinc plated.




Ready to go back together with new seals.




The studs got a chromate treatment that protects the zinc.




The hubs went home with a hollow drift.




Even though the bearings are lubricated by hypoid oil, the workshop manual says to pack them with grease.  So I did.




Various rings, washers, and nuts...




Almost forgot to crimp over the tab washer.




The hubs get closed up by the flange on the half axles.  Mine looked to be in very good shape, with very minor spline wear.




Then the new drums.  They still drag a little even with the adjusters backed all the way out.  I may have to address that.




By this time, the rear axle assembly was getting really heavy and awkward to move around.




I thought some wheels would help, but the originals were really unsightly.  I don't know yet if I'll be using these wheels in the final product, but solely for aesthetic purposes in the interim, I blasted and painted them. 




Now, I can roll the rear axle around.




This brings me to the brink of getting the frame back on it's wheels, which should be the next step.

The hub refurb was pretty cheap--just the seals, O rings, and gaskets--less than $20, I think.

Comments to Ed at elhollin1@yahoo.com

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