Rear Wheel Tilts outward
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 4
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Rear Wheel Tilts outward
I have a 1977 Corvette, roughly 77k miles.
My right wheel is slightly tilting outward. Also, the tire is easily moved back and forth when jacked up. I was told this is probably a bad axle bearing but thought I would see what others thought.
My right wheel is slightly tilting outward. Also, the tire is easily moved back and forth when jacked up. I was told this is probably a bad axle bearing but thought I would see what others thought.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 577
Likes: 6
We're not going to be able to diagnose you based on just the tilted wheel. Pics would help, of the wheel, rear end, and suspension. Take pics of the rear end with the weight of the car down, then take pics of everything with the rear end up and the frame supported by jack stands. If you cannot do all of that on your own I recommend you take it to a shop that can put it on a lift. Have him get under the back of the car with you and show you what is worn and what isn't. The list is long with possibilities.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Japan
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Ontario
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,152
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From: South Western Ontario
Car jacked up. It sounds like when you grab the tire top and bottom you can rock it, correct? If you grap the tire front and back can you also rock it? The second being true would point to wheel bearings. Only the first being true would point to a bad c-clip in the differential, a bad u-joint or possibly the strut rod under the 1/2 shaft is loose at the differential or has one of the bushings pounded out of it.
Peter
Peter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,593
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From: Southern Indiana
My vote goes to the DIFFERENTIAL SIDE YOKE wore out inside the differential housing.
And that means changing the diff grease is needed.
Dirty fix is heat up the strut rod and bend it until the tire stands strait up and down.
I know people don't like that but if the fix is far in the future and your tired of buying a new tire every month its worth it.
I know a vette in town that is like that right now and the owner is happy with it.
Sometimes you got to do what you got to do, you know " poor people, poor ways".
And that means changing the diff grease is needed.
Dirty fix is heat up the strut rod and bend it until the tire stands strait up and down.
I know people don't like that but if the fix is far in the future and your tired of buying a new tire every month its worth it.
I know a vette in town that is like that right now and the owner is happy with it.
Sometimes you got to do what you got to do, you know " poor people, poor ways".
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Michael S. Palmer
Pro
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 581
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From: BC
At rest the natural loading pushes the top of the wheel inward. So if the top of the wheel is tilted outward it's not likely going to be looseness in a wheel bearing or bushings or yokes or adjusters, or a missing clip that holds the yoke from pulling out.
You should still start with a check up of the condition of your rear suspension and check for any wear and looseness anyways. You'll need to jack up the car and block under the frame then move your jack to under the rear spring bolt and take the spring tension off the trailing arm to get a true picture of movement. However, correcting any looseness you find is still not going to tip the wheel inward.
Once you've ensured that's nothing loose or have corrected any looseness you will need to align the rear wheels to get the wheel standing straight.
The most likely cause of it being tilted out is some work was done that either changed the ride height or required removal of the strut rods and it was not realigned after the work was done.
Steve g
You should still start with a check up of the condition of your rear suspension and check for any wear and looseness anyways. You'll need to jack up the car and block under the frame then move your jack to under the rear spring bolt and take the spring tension off the trailing arm to get a true picture of movement. However, correcting any looseness you find is still not going to tip the wheel inward.
Once you've ensured that's nothing loose or have corrected any looseness you will need to align the rear wheels to get the wheel standing straight.
The most likely cause of it being tilted out is some work was done that either changed the ride height or required removal of the strut rods and it was not realigned after the work was done.
Steve g
Pro
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 581
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From: BC
Le Mans Master
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