Rear suspension issues.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Inverness Florida
Rear suspension issues.
Hey all,
I have a rear suspension problem. Pulled the vette into the garage yesterday and heard a pop from the rear end. I parked the car and the left rear tire was at a funny angle. I just jacked the car up and now I can "wiggle" the tire in all directions abit.
Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated.
I have a rear suspension problem. Pulled the vette into the garage yesterday and heard a pop from the rear end. I parked the car and the left rear tire was at a funny angle. I just jacked the car up and now I can "wiggle" the tire in all directions abit.
Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,575
Likes: 1
From: Tuttle OK
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,946
Likes: 28
From: Long Beach CA
No problem at all, if you have the right equipment. Like a press and the special tools. Rear wheel bearings are not your average garage job. My advice is to remove the trailing arms from the car, pull the spindle assemblies, and send them to VBP or Van Steel to be rebuilt. I believe they warranty their work for several years.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
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SPARTAN
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You need to give the rear end a good look from underneath to see what's wrong. If something is moving, you need to figure out what it was. Could be a wheel bearing, but it could also be a u-joint, or something could have come loose with the camber rods or the toe-shims.
Have someone wiggle the tire and look underneath to see what's moving.
Wheel bearings in thr rear are nothing like normal front bearings. They need to be pressed in & out and shimmed properly. There are specialty tools available for doing that job if you're so inclined. While the arms are out of the car for that, you might as well go though the rest of the arms and put in new bushings and make sure the e-brake is in good working order. It's one of those "I could do it with the proper tools, or I could pay a little more to have it done and have some piece of mind" jobs.
Have someone wiggle the tire and look underneath to see what's moving.
Wheel bearings in thr rear are nothing like normal front bearings. They need to be pressed in & out and shimmed properly. There are specialty tools available for doing that job if you're so inclined. While the arms are out of the car for that, you might as well go though the rest of the arms and put in new bushings and make sure the e-brake is in good working order. It's one of those "I could do it with the proper tools, or I could pay a little more to have it done and have some piece of mind" jobs.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
You need to give the rear end a good look from underneath to see what's wrong. If something is moving, you need to figure out what it was. Could be a wheel bearing, but it could also be a u-joint, or something could have come loose with the camber rods or the toe-shims.
Have someone wiggle the tire and look underneath to see what's moving.
Wheel bearings in thr rear are nothing like normal front bearings. They need to be pressed in & out and shimmed properly. There are specialty tools available for doing that job if you're so inclined. While the arms are out of the car for that, you might as well go though the rest of the arms and put in new bushings and make sure the e-brake is in good working order. It's one of those "I could do it with the proper tools, or I could pay a little more to have it done and have some piece of mind" jobs.
Have someone wiggle the tire and look underneath to see what's moving.
Wheel bearings in thr rear are nothing like normal front bearings. They need to be pressed in & out and shimmed properly. There are specialty tools available for doing that job if you're so inclined. While the arms are out of the car for that, you might as well go though the rest of the arms and put in new bushings and make sure the e-brake is in good working order. It's one of those "I could do it with the proper tools, or I could pay a little more to have it done and have some piece of mind" jobs.
T/As are a rather specialized job.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,575
Likes: 1
From: Tuttle OK
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
getting the end play right is really the most technical part imo, .02 to .08 isn't a lot.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,575
Likes: 1
From: Tuttle OK
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,154
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From: Connecticut, USA
Be sure you know where the problem is. Check the rear spring bolts they break the cover at time. If the bearing are bad you'll know it - jack up the rear of the car and see how they feel.
The correct way to setup rear bearings is to grind the shims to size rather then use the generic shim kits. Big difference in the job.
The correct way to setup rear bearings is to grind the shims to size rather then use the generic shim kits. Big difference in the job.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,575
Likes: 1
From: Tuttle OK
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
that's good news to me. just completed my first one and had to grind (bench sander) a shim on one side to get into spec (.04 on that one).