Rear wheel wobble
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,993
Likes: 9
From: Gig Harbor WA
Rear wheel wobble
Mornin' All,
Thought I'd throw this one out there, maybe a little premature, but anyways....'72 350/auto.
Left rear wheel started to "wobble" slightly (noticeable). Visibly confirmed this while driving. Probably wobbles about, oh maybe half inch to inch.. Anyway, first thought (hoped) it was a bent rim. Had rim checked, was OK. Now I THINK I'm hearing some tell-tale bearing noise while driving?? With car jacked, I tried to detect some play in the wheel/hub assembly, but didnt feel any (park brake off, auto tranny in N). Wheel or bearing area IS NOT HOT. No obvious external damage or anything bent. Plan to tear into it in the next few days, maybe today.
Just thought I'd ask what to look for, or if I'm missing something more obvious. Car sat for many years. I just started driving it some this week.
Thanks in advance,
Rob
Thought I'd throw this one out there, maybe a little premature, but anyways....'72 350/auto.
Left rear wheel started to "wobble" slightly (noticeable). Visibly confirmed this while driving. Probably wobbles about, oh maybe half inch to inch.. Anyway, first thought (hoped) it was a bent rim. Had rim checked, was OK. Now I THINK I'm hearing some tell-tale bearing noise while driving?? With car jacked, I tried to detect some play in the wheel/hub assembly, but didnt feel any (park brake off, auto tranny in N). Wheel or bearing area IS NOT HOT. No obvious external damage or anything bent. Plan to tear into it in the next few days, maybe today.
Just thought I'd ask what to look for, or if I'm missing something more obvious. Car sat for many years. I just started driving it some this week.
Thanks in advance,
Rob
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 851
Likes: 10
From: Palm City, FL
Originally Posted by MakoShark72
Mornin' All,
Thought I'd throw this one out there, maybe a little premature, but anyways....'72 350/auto.
Left rear wheel started to "wobble" slightly (noticeable). Visibly confirmed this while driving. Probably wobbles about, oh maybe half inch to inch.. Anyway, first thought (hoped) it was a bent rim. Had rim checked, was OK. Now I THINK I'm hearing some tell-tale bearing noise while driving?? With car jacked, I tried to detect some play in the wheel/hub assembly, but didnt feel any (park brake off, auto tranny in N). Wheel or bearing area IS NOT HOT. No obvious external damage or anything bent. Plan to tear into it in the next few days, maybe today.
Just thought I'd ask what to look for, or if I'm missing something more obvious. Car sat for many years. I just started driving it some this week.
Thanks in advance,
Rob
Thought I'd throw this one out there, maybe a little premature, but anyways....'72 350/auto.
Left rear wheel started to "wobble" slightly (noticeable). Visibly confirmed this while driving. Probably wobbles about, oh maybe half inch to inch.. Anyway, first thought (hoped) it was a bent rim. Had rim checked, was OK. Now I THINK I'm hearing some tell-tale bearing noise while driving?? With car jacked, I tried to detect some play in the wheel/hub assembly, but didnt feel any (park brake off, auto tranny in N). Wheel or bearing area IS NOT HOT. No obvious external damage or anything bent. Plan to tear into it in the next few days, maybe today.
Just thought I'd ask what to look for, or if I'm missing something more obvious. Car sat for many years. I just started driving it some this week.
Thanks in advance,
Rob
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 110
Likes: 2
From: SnoCo, WA
You may need to jack up the trailing arm off the ground to check for wobble, since letting the suspension become fully unloaded may be putting enough tension on the back side of the spindle to elminate the play.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,993
Likes: 9
From: Gig Harbor WA
Originally Posted by genuine1980
Somehow bent the spindle maybe?
Is this a PITA to remove/replace, assuming thats the problem?? I dont have my Assembly Manual yet, just Haynes.
Thanks guys,
Rob
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 851
Likes: 10
From: Palm City, FL
Originally Posted by MakoShark72
I think thats it. Put the car on a rack, removed tire, started car and put in drive. Hub/rotor assembly is definitely wobbling. Wheel looks like it had a pretty tough encounter with something, so the spindle/hub took the brunt, it appears.
Is this a PITA to remove/replace, assuming thats the problem?? I dont have my Assembly Manual yet, just Haynes.
Thanks guys,
Rob
Is this a PITA to remove/replace, assuming thats the problem?? I dont have my Assembly Manual yet, just Haynes.
Thanks guys,
Rob
However, since you are doing it... I would suggest replacing parts that wear like the wheel bearings etc, because you dont know what else might be damaged... plus it makes sense to do it while your in there. And do both sides while your at it.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,993
Likes: 9
From: Gig Harbor WA
Originally Posted by genuine1980
I would suggest replacing parts that wear like the wheel bearings etc, because you dont know what else might be damaged...
Thanks,
Rob
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 851
Likes: 10
From: Palm City, FL
Originally Posted by MakoShark72
Yea, had planned to do all that I can while its apart. Are there any "alignment" type issues involved, once its back together? Also, any special tools required (above and beyond normal shop wrenches and sockets, etc)??
Thanks,
Rob
Thanks,
Rob
Special tools... yea. Unless you want to damage the spindles when taking the bearings off or putting them on, I would bring them to a shop with a press to remove and install. Other than that, I think your ok... you might want to get something to measure the play in the wheel so you know how tight to make the nut that hold the sprindle on... you dont want it loose were you can feel play when you move the tire in and out... but you dont want it too tight either where you are crushing the bearings.
It is kind of a PITA.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 259
Likes: 2
From: Sacramento CA
Lots of special tools, disassembly, assembly, measure, disassembly, shim with selective spacers, assembly, etc. Reman assemblies are about $400 exchange. I'm one who does everything on my car myself including rear bearings....ONCE. When the other side started to go I pulled the complete trailing arm assembly out and took it to a local Corvette shop and had it gone through completely. My opinion it's not worth hassle if you're not setup with the right tools.
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,993
Likes: 9
From: Gig Harbor WA
Originally Posted by RPOL68
My opinion it's not worth hassle if you're not setup with the right tools.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,672
Likes: 1
From: New Cumberland PA
I'm not sure what the correct procedure is to check for a bent rear spindle; however, this is how I might tackle it.
Jack the car up and disconnect the half shaft. That will allow the tire to spin with minimal resistance. If it wobbles, then remove the tire and see if the spindle wobbles. I would think if the tire is wobbling an inch you should see the spindle wobble if its bent.
Working on the trailing arms does require more tools than sockets, wrenchs, and a hammer. There are dozens of threads covering how to do it. There is not a lot of savings in doing them yourself if you have to dish out $200+ for the tools. On the other hand if you do yourself, it pays for the tools.
Jack the car up and disconnect the half shaft. That will allow the tire to spin with minimal resistance. If it wobbles, then remove the tire and see if the spindle wobbles. I would think if the tire is wobbling an inch you should see the spindle wobble if its bent.
Working on the trailing arms does require more tools than sockets, wrenchs, and a hammer. There are dozens of threads covering how to do it. There is not a lot of savings in doing them yourself if you have to dish out $200+ for the tools. On the other hand if you do yourself, it pays for the tools.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,173
Likes: 3,982
From: Connecticut, USA
I would get it up in the air and see if there are any obvious signs first. Then remoive the 1/2 shaft and that will leave you with the spindle separate and also let you check the endplay in the side yoke.
Good luck
Good luck
