Midship bearing support strip

[paul wilks]

Promise not to laugh!
I live in an area which is a hardware and engineering desert.
I am contemplating replacing the midship bearing support strip (rubber and fabric) part number 52323.
I assume this will NOT be available through JCS where I get all my spares. I also assume I will be told "You can get this at any good hardware stores". So you see my problem!
Has anyone a source for this 'support strip please?
Also, it is many years since I replaced the 'support strips', therefore can someone advice me of the method of replacement? Is it just necessary to support the midship bearing plate whilst replacing the rubber/fabric strips, one side at a time?

Thanks for your help!

Paul

[jowettgeoff]

Hi Paul,

These may well be available from JCS or Bill Lock, but beware of the rubberised ones that don't last very long. When I had to do mine, I scrounged some reinforced canvas type webbing from a farmer friend. This was from an agricultural machine drive belt. It was necessary to cut it to size and drill the holes, but it did the job fine. If you can't find the proper item, let me know and I'll cut you a piece from what remains.

Geoff.

[Jack]

If you have a Halfords or similar near you, you will find that rubber strips that seem very similar are available in the exhaust hangers section - similar exists for very low slung exhausts, which have fittings at either end which you won't need.

As Geoff points out though, this isn't something that you want to fail any time soon, and cheaper rubber products may well do so, so worth replacing with something more substantial if available.

Jack.

[paul wilks]

Thanks for the advice, folks.

I am phoning JCS for front wheel bearings (again! Second set in twelve months on front nearside, front offside is still sound) So I'll ask them about the rubber/fabric.

Paul

[ian Howell]

Whilst you are on the subject of front wheel bearings . . .

I remember that YEARS ago, when we were both a lot younger, PJGD made some spacers to permit the fitting of taper roller bearings that, like modern practice, could be adjusted for wear/tension.

These were a fairly simple lathe job but also included the part numbers for suitable bearings.

Are you there PJGD?

[paul wilks]

Wow, Ian!
If we could some produced they would be really useful.

Paul

[paul wilks]

Success! I have ordered the rubber/fabric strip from JCS tonight

Now back to one of my original daft questions!

I assume you 'simply' (HA!) support the midship bearing support in the centre and either side and this will enable you to replace the strips.
Am I correct please?
Thanks for your patience.

Paul

[David Morris]

Hi Paul,

Yes, you are quite right. You need to take the weight of the propshaft and centre bearing with a support, whilst you replace the rubber strips. However, have a good look at the replacement strips before you put them on. They need to be fairly 'meaty' and have fabric running through the rubber material. An earlier post mentioned a piece of rubber belting as being suitable, and I would have thought this would be ideal.

Do hope you get on ok with changing the front wheel bearings. I have had problems in the past with the bearing outer races, from the inner bearing, rotating in the hub housing. If, when you take the old ones out, they need a bit of careful drifting to get them out, then that's a good sign! If they almost drop out, then that's not so good! They may have been slipping in the housing?

Hope this helps?

Best regards,

David

[TedAllen]

Hi Paul' Hope all is well at Runcorn.

I bought and fitted a pair of the JCS rubbers a long time ago when I was putting the car back on the road. They both failed over a few months without even having had the car on the road. Just the weight of the prop shafts was enough.

I went up to a shop in Oldham where they specialised in army surplus. I bought a 2" webbing belt which provided me with several sets of supports. I doubled the webbing up and drilled it to suit. It has not failed over many years running.

[paul wilks]

Thanks Ted. Too late, I've ordered the rubbers! Perhaps I'll be able to use them for something else!!
Hope you are both well

Paul