Club Triumph

Hello

New to this club, I own a FHC with V8 engine (converted Premium edition model).

I've owned 4 TR7s over the years, all had the usual knocks, grinds and clonks from underneath but my latest has an unusual habit. After breaking and coming to a rest a strange 'grind' can be heard from the front end, it's quite loud. At first I thought the prop shaft was hitting the exhaust but this isn't the case. Sometimes, it occurs after the vehicle has come to a complete stop and the ignition has been switched off. i.e. it happens without the engine running (within a couple of seconds of extinguishing the ignition). This leads me to believe it might be suspension related. It almost sounds as if something binds together under braking then 'rights' itself once the vehicle comes to a stop or pulls away.

Any ideas what this could be?

My first thoughts are that it might be coming from the back, and in particular the rear brakes.
And checking them is easy, make sure you clean and grease (were necessary) everything before assembling.
Also check/clean/lubricate the handbrake cable.

But that is a long shot as  haven't got a clue what brake set up you have on the car, I presume the original drums?
If that doesn't solve the problem it's a matter of going over all suspension components with a fine comb, deleting all possibilities one by one ...

Oh ... and welcome to the club :)

Yes, welcome to the club.

That does sound a very strange scenario tho :-/

It does sound like a process of eliminaton will be needed as Theo says.

leccy rad fan?

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I have isolated the noise to the alternator area. Definitely the front of the engine to the left (driver's side). It's not my electric fans, and the engine driven fan has been removed.

It is most prominent on extinguishing the ignition, a very short, loud burst of grinding noise (like a propellor/fan being fouled).

Thing is it doesn't do it every time and I can't see anything physically that could interfere with the rotating blades on the front of the alternator. Perhaps the bearings are on the way and the spindle is moving intermittantly. I don't even know if that is possible.

I guess I'll find out when whatever it is flies through the bonnet!!

PS, it sounds a bit like a clown's car!

Try disconnecting your alternator belt, and spin the alternator pulley by hand, see if it is free to turn or feels rough, and noisy?
Then do the same with the water pump pulley, (it's a process of elimination)

Let us know what you find!  :)

Check the anti roll bar bushes, in the control arm.

Film it happening! Then we can hear it!  :)

When I say it happens with the ignition off I mean as components (pulleys etc) are winding down to a standstill. I now have a fairly large pool of water under the car. The evidence grows. I will try and film and post. I have the professionals looking at it tomorrow.

Now fairly sure it's to do with something connected to the fan belt assembly (water pump or alternator or both).

I will let you all know what it is if we diagnose tomorrow.

Waterpump sits in the block and is driven by the half shaft, not the fan belt.
If you have a leak here, it means the waterpump seals have perished ...

Had the car thoroughly checked out by TR7 specialists. No play in any bearings, nothing wrong with water pump, alternator etc, no moving parts fouling evident. Strangely, the car didn't make the noise at all on this particular day. Weather conditions were wet so the best we could come up with is that it may be suspension/bushing related and the wet weather has acted as a lubricant. Who knows, if I ever find out i'll let you know.

You mentioned the engine driven fan has been removed, has the viscous unit also been removed ?

Yes that's gone as well, only the pulley left. In the end the noise went away for about 3,000 miles and has only recently returned. Tends to happen on full steering lock. The car is being pulled to bits over the winter for engine and steering upgrades so hopefully we'll get to the bottom of it then.