Lock ring on rear spindle
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: Palo Iowa
Lock ring on rear spindle
This may be a stupid question but I have to ask ? How do you know if the clip has come off the rear axel stub? 
Last edited by badnblk2000; Dec 6, 2006 at 04:21 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 217
Likes: 1
From: Buffalo MO
Do you mean the clip on the axle stub? In the rear end?
If you are, you can usually jack the car off the groung and you will notice the stub sliding out of the seal too far as the suspension relaxes and the trailing arms drop. When you let the car back down, the stub will slide back into place against the carrier pin.
It seems like most of the time when I have had this happen, it was because the stub was worn down to the point that the clip could no longer stay in its groove. If the axle wears far enough, it will slid in too far and the U-bolts (unless it has caps) will hit on the differential.
It will also cause the rear wheels to have excessive negative camber. (lean in at the top). If they are worn badly.
By the way...... They are no stupid questions man. It's only stupid if you don't ask when you do have a question.
There is always someone in here that can answer any question about a vette. And, if someone answers incorrectly, well... someone always lines them (or me!
)out.
If you are, you can usually jack the car off the groung and you will notice the stub sliding out of the seal too far as the suspension relaxes and the trailing arms drop. When you let the car back down, the stub will slide back into place against the carrier pin.
It seems like most of the time when I have had this happen, it was because the stub was worn down to the point that the clip could no longer stay in its groove. If the axle wears far enough, it will slid in too far and the U-bolts (unless it has caps) will hit on the differential.
It will also cause the rear wheels to have excessive negative camber. (lean in at the top). If they are worn badly.
By the way...... They are no stupid questions man. It's only stupid if you don't ask when you do have a question.
There is always someone in here that can answer any question about a vette. And, if someone answers incorrectly, well... someone always lines them (or me!
)out.
Last edited by duntovlives; Dec 6, 2006 at 02:32 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 217
Likes: 1
From: Buffalo MO
i'm just guessing, but i would think that as long as end play was under .0625 (1/16) you are okay.
i have heard people say that up to .125 was cool. And some say it should be down around .004 to .008.
i know that if you get up in the .375 (3/8) range your in trouble.
to answer your second question, yes and no. it depends on how fast it begins to wear. it will eventually get to where the yokes will hit on the differential and you will start to notice an increase in negative camber on your wheels.
the problem is that the yokes wear where they push against the pin in the diff. and, once they wear past the hardened outside, it's all down hill from there.
you can double clip them to take up some of the extra endplay. not a correct fix, but if you are doin it yourself you could get by.
new axles are not all that high priced. lots of companies offer them in a varity of flavors.
labor is the money eater. therefore, if you are paying someone to do the work, dont go for the ole double clip trick. chin the pole for the new axles.
i have heard people say that up to .125 was cool. And some say it should be down around .004 to .008.
i know that if you get up in the .375 (3/8) range your in trouble.
to answer your second question, yes and no. it depends on how fast it begins to wear. it will eventually get to where the yokes will hit on the differential and you will start to notice an increase in negative camber on your wheels.
the problem is that the yokes wear where they push against the pin in the diff. and, once they wear past the hardened outside, it's all down hill from there.
you can double clip them to take up some of the extra endplay. not a correct fix, but if you are doin it yourself you could get by.
new axles are not all that high priced. lots of companies offer them in a varity of flavors.
labor is the money eater. therefore, if you are paying someone to do the work, dont go for the ole double clip trick. chin the pole for the new axles.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Originally Posted by badnblk2000
how far if any should the axel stub come out of the differential when the wheels are off the ground? And if the clip has come off is this something that has to be fixed right away?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: Palo Iowa
well it looks like I will be taking the rear end apart when I get it back from the paint shop. when i turned the wheel around by hand to count the revolutions to find the rear end gear ratio the the half shaft and stub axle came out of the rear end about 3/4 to an inch maybe a little more. Thought this looked a little strange.
Anything else I need to look at when Im in there? And what stub axels do you recommend? Its just a daily driver, no racing..
Anything else I need to look at when Im in there? And what stub axels do you recommend? Its just a daily driver, no racing..
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,154
Likes: 3,959
From: Connecticut, USA
Originally Posted by DWncchs
You ask about how soon it has to be fixed and the previous post explained the wear problems.This a long shot but I had it happen to a customer.If the clip gets stirred up by the ring gear and jams itself between the pinion and ring gear it WILL lock the differential up.If your posi trac is good it will lock both rear wheels and send you into a spin.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,154
Likes: 3,959
From: Connecticut, USA
Originally Posted by badnblk2000
well it looks like I will be taking the rear end apart when I get it back from the paint shop. when i turned the wheel around by hand to count the revolutions to find the rear end gear ratio the the half shaft and stub axle came out of the rear end about 3/4 to an inch maybe a little more. Thought this looked a little strange.
Anything else I need to look at when Im in there? And what stub axels do you recommend? Its just a daily driver, no racing..
Anything else I need to look at when Im in there? And what stub axels do you recommend? Its just a daily driver, no racing..
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