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Most C3 Corvette's I have driven act the same in the rear end when
you put the car in drive the rear squats down, when you put it in to reverse it goes up.
I just bought a 80 L82 and when I put it in drive it goes clunk and no
squat.
What is wrong? What should I look for?
Thanks Barry
That is the problem......this car does not squat down when
you put it in gear.
It gives a big clunk like there might be a u-joint gone or
something.
Thanks
There is a bushing on the front of your diff that is in between the diff and front mounting point. The clunk you hear is because the bushing is toast. Replace it and it should be Ok and get your squat back.
Ed
Is there a proper name for that bushing so I can make sure
I order the right one?
And is it very hard to change? Could I do it at home with
common garage tools or will I have to take it to a shop?
Thanks Barry
Zips calls it a PINION SNUBBER CUSHION, there's an upper and a lower. They look a bit like doughnuts and go around a metal sleeve. You can get them in rubber or poly. There's one bolt that goes through it and few washers that hold it all together. Pretty simple to do, unless the bolt and nut is rusted. There's not a lot of room on the top to get your hands in.
You should be able to jack up the Vette and check if the front of the differential can be moved up or down by hand. If it moves, you need new ones.
On my 82 the previous owner (I'll call him Bubba), replaced it, but only put one in intead of both upper and lower. It clunked. I had some difficulty getting ahold of the nut on top, but finally got it.
I can recomend Van Steel, good service. But check that this is really the part you need before ordering. U-jounts or totally gone trailing arm bushings can make noise also.
I pulled the front bolt (through the gear case) out, which allowed me to tilt the front of the support down. PIA but it was easier to get the cushion out.