Trailing Arm Play
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,660
Likes: 3
From: South Central Louisiana
St. Jude Contributor
Trailing Arm Play
Starting to disassemble the TA's on my 80. The driverside looks good. I have disconnected the halfshaft and checked for play. It has a little in and out and hardly noticeable side to side. What should I be concerned with???
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 9,662
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From: Semper ubi, sub ubi
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Re: Trailing Arm Play (71,454,4spd)
I have never seen a specification for endplay movement on the rear-yokes, but I think anything around a 1/16" or less is probably good. Thats about what mine had after replacing the yokes and retainers. Before the replacement I had 7/16" movement on one side and about 3/8" on the other. There was some sign of wear on the ends of my old yokes, but not enough to really effect the amount of movement I was seeing.
At the time I did the work, I really didn't know enough to really tear into the rest of the rearend and look for other causes. But when I put in new yokes 90% of the movement was gone.
At the time I did the work, I really didn't know enough to really tear into the rest of the rearend and look for other causes. But when I put in new yokes 90% of the movement was gone.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: Trailing Arm Play (71,454,4spd)
I am having trouble figuring out what you are talking about. The yokes are in the rear end housing, the axles are in the trailing arms and the trailing arms are in the frame. Which clearances are we talking about?
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: Trailing Arm Play (71,454,4spd)
Chevy calls for a clearance of .001-.008 amd states that if the clearance is within those specs adjustment if unnecessary. This is a dumb recommendation. The ideal situation is to set the bearing at .0005-.001. Since stock shims are only available in .006 increments you have to custom machine to get the .0005-.001 clearance.
I know these facts because just 10 minutes ago I machined my shims that had .003 clearance on both side down to .001 clearance.
All this week I have been assemblying the axles each night, measuring the clearance, taking a little off the next day at work, sneaking up on the right clearance.
I do NOT have pressed on bears but polish the axles until the bearing just slides on, at most a light tap with a rubber hammer. There is no need for pressed on bearings. Makes life alot easier if the bearings just slide on. At least the one next to the 1/2 shaft flange. Torque the nut to 100 Ft Lbs
I follow the guide from the article Big Block From Hell.
I know these facts because just 10 minutes ago I machined my shims that had .003 clearance on both side down to .001 clearance.
All this week I have been assemblying the axles each night, measuring the clearance, taking a little off the next day at work, sneaking up on the right clearance.
I do NOT have pressed on bears but polish the axles until the bearing just slides on, at most a light tap with a rubber hammer. There is no need for pressed on bearings. Makes life alot easier if the bearings just slide on. At least the one next to the 1/2 shaft flange. Torque the nut to 100 Ft Lbs
I follow the guide from the article Big Block From Hell.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: Trailing Arm Play (norvalwilhelm)
Forgot to mention. Check all clearances dry, no grease and no seals. Once the grease and seals are installed the clearances will feel tight but under load grease will not carry a load but squeeze out.
So check dry.
So check dry.
