Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Front prop-shaft U Joint

Just been in the garage and had a dig around.

Looks fairly straight forward but still a PITA just to remove the propshaft.

Might try to get a bit more sound insulation in while I'm in the process.

Thanks guys

Conscious this thread is from 2018 but seems to cover exactly what I'm hearing in my drive line i.e. a clunk in or around the front tunnel area if I'm a tad sharp on or off the throttle/clutch.

Is there a way to confirm that is the issue (though it sounds like it is from reading the above) prior to stripping the interior out of the car?

Thanks
Stuart

If you are absolutely sure that it is coming from the front u/j this won’t apply but sound does tend to travel...
Clonks that sound just like u/j issues can also emanate from dry wheel hubs/splines. Try removing rear wheels, cleaning hubs and splines and apply a liberal coating of an EP grease, particularly on the conical seating areas.

Stuart, you mention it happens when you're a bit sharp on/off the power

It's more likely to be just driveline shunt, the V6 engine & 'box are heavy compared to the mass of the body / chassis and the engine mounts are not very sophisticated

Check the rear suspension brackets on the rear wheels. Mine cracked o one side. MMC had upgraded the design significantly presumably because of failure with the Roadster's torque.
This allows the prop shaft to move.

I get a similar sounding clink/clunk from the rear end on my '74 4/4. I'd have thought it was worn washers in the diff (had similar with my MGB) but it's only done 11,000 miles (which I believe). So unlikely to be wear somewhere. I don't know the suspension arrangement of the OP's car but maybe tighten up the U bolts holding the axle. This has also caused rear end noises from my MG which has a similar rear axle setup as my 4/4.

An annual “spanner check” is a good idea as you can spot potential problems to sort out. Treat it like a pre MOT check.

Good morning/afternoon all

Thanks for the thoughts/suggestions on where to start looking, I’m making a list now and will work through to track this down as pretty sure something is amiss. Agree 100% on the general overall spanner check, car had aesthetically been well looked after before it joined the family but mechanical maintenance appears to have been lacking from what I’m finding.

John - to check the rear suspension brackets is it best to go in from the top to check these or would it be visible from underneath?

Again thanks
Stuart

I had a similar noise in my non Morgan a few weeks ago. I was sure it was coming from the back of the car. Turned out to be a bad motor mount.

Stuart,
if you take the tool tray out it is easy to see as if they fail completely the damper just hangs loose. If one part is broken as in the photo you can see the break.
You can also see if there are witness marks of the prop shaft hitting the tunnel.
John