Rear End Issue
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 307
Likes: 0
From: Madisonville La
Rear End Issue
Finally getting the other problems corrected to the point where I can get my 74 on the road for short distances. The handling is squirely. When you give it gas or let off there is a wiggle from the back. I jacked it up to check for something lose. As I'm trying to move the right rear wheel around checking for worn/loose bearings the wheel moves another 2" out. The side yoke is extending 2" out of the carrier. Are the carrier U joint yoke retaining rings the only parts the holding the side yokes in place? How hard are they to place? I remember watchiing axle rebuilds seeingthey place large circlips on the axles pretty easily. Or am I screwed and in for a carrier rebuild?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,422
Likes: 591
From: McHenry Illinois
You would need to remove the diff at least for that repair and to check for further wear/damage inside the diff. However I doubt this is the only issue with the rear gettin squirrelly.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Movement side to side when letting off and giving gas is almost always toe-in issues with the trailing arms- missing shims, rotted bushing etc.
Side yoke play is not a factor in normal street driving and certainly not while driving in a straight line.
Side yoke play is not a factor in normal street driving and certainly not while driving in a straight line.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Sounds as if the clip is missing or most likely the yoke has worn off like a pencil and the clip just fell off once all the metal disappeared. Time to get in there and inspect.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 1
From: Ansonia/NYC CT
I agree with the clip, likely it's missing, but I will also second the opinion that that is likely not the only problem. When the rear gets sloppy like you are describing, it's usually more than one component, and most likely, the bushings. If the bushings go, the different pieces of the suspension start to move in ways it was never intended to, which causes your tires to start doing some funny things, especially under load. I get it up on stands and check it out ASAP, before going for another ride anywhere.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 307
Likes: 0
From: Madisonville La
Thanks for the replys. I thought I was getting into this vet cheaply but everything turns into a problem. Like you never heard that on this forum!!!! I'll get into the dif and see if it's worn or Bubba worked on it last and left a few parts out.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 424
Likes: 9
From: Killeen Texas
I have the same squirrelly problem, exactly, but NO play in and out w/ the axles. Also all the shims are all there and tight. I put the car up on jack stands w/ the back wheels off the ground and found that the U-joint at the differential is worn, slop/noise when I put the car in gear. The 1/2 shaft U-joints have some play in them also. All the bushings look good and the spring is in great shape. I am the 2nd. owner of this car. My '81 was bought new by my father in law in Arizona where he was stationed in the army. The car has 123,000 miles on it and 114,000 were put on by my father in law driving between Arizona and Texas, all highway miles. The car has always been garaged and he babied the car, never over the speed limit and never hard acceleration, that was just him. The frame still has factory paint on it. The shocks are old, but not leaking. Could it be possible that my problem is a combination of shocks and 1/2 shaft U-joints? I'm stumped at this point. Thanks in advance.
I posted this one other time, a number of months ago, and "the shims" were what one person suggested, possibly one of you guys. But not the problem.
I posted this one other time, a number of months ago, and "the shims" were what one person suggested, possibly one of you guys. But not the problem.
