Question on rear diff
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Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Platteville Wis
Question on rear diff
Another post down a little had a similar question about bearing play so I decieded to check mine out...drivers side about a 1/16 of an inch play from what I can see eyeballing off of the outer yolk,.. too much? the right side has none but the yolk coming out of the differential moves in and out about an 1/8 of an inch is that normal? the swaybar is fine along with the trailing arms that I can see :rolleyes: that did not do that on the drivers side. Getting to know these 25 year old cars is both a pain and a joy :lol:
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: Connecticut, USA
Re: Question on rear diff (First79vette)
Sounds like you have worn out yokes-common with these cars,especially the late 70's cars. You'll need to confirm where the play is before removing things.
I suggest you jack the car up and remove the 1/2 shafts, You can now get a better look at the yoke play and bearing play. Rear trailing arm bearing shouldn't move more then .003" to be good. Ths willbe hard to do by hand but if you see a lot of movement youknow you need to service them.
The rear yokes wear and the resulting metal "dust" ends up in the oil and the bearings. I rebuild the differentials when they are that worn to be safe, choice is up to you.
Gary
I suggest you jack the car up and remove the 1/2 shafts, You can now get a better look at the yoke play and bearing play. Rear trailing arm bearing shouldn't move more then .003" to be good. Ths willbe hard to do by hand but if you see a lot of movement youknow you need to service them.
The rear yokes wear and the resulting metal "dust" ends up in the oil and the bearings. I rebuild the differentials when they are that worn to be safe, choice is up to you.
Gary
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Canberra AUSTRALIA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Re: Question on rear diff (First79vette)
Van Steel sells rebuilt yoke to fix that problem. Bad news is you have to pull the diff to put them in.
One of mine had 1/4 inch play (driver side) and made a horrible clunk sound.
One of mine had 1/4 inch play (driver side) and made a horrible clunk sound.
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Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Platteville Wis
Re: Question on rear diff (stingry)
Shouldn't there be some in and out movement in and out of the diff for wheel travel? since there are no slip shafts? I'm thinking on the drivers side its a bearing play issue..but yep I'm going to be pulling tires off and cleaning them anyway...so I'll check somemore :smash: the right side does at times have a click sound to it but I think thats the posi clicking...
[Modified by First79vette, 10:47 AM 4/9/2004]
[Modified by First79vette, 10:47 AM 4/9/2004]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
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From: I can walk to MA
Re: Question on rear diff (First79vette)
yes and no.
The half-shafts actually help support the weight on the rear wheels.
Thus, there is no slip joint in the halfshafts.
1/8" of yoke play is about at the service limit. This means you should replace
them soon, but it's not going to let go at any moment.
The wheel bearing movement seems much more serious. If you can see the
flange that bolts to the halfshaft moving, there is excessive play.
:seeya
The half-shafts actually help support the weight on the rear wheels.
Thus, there is no slip joint in the halfshafts.
1/8" of yoke play is about at the service limit. This means you should replace
them soon, but it's not going to let go at any moment.
The wheel bearing movement seems much more serious. If you can see the
flange that bolts to the halfshaft moving, there is excessive play.
:seeya
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 171
Likes: 1
From: Rolla MO
Re: Question on rear diff (NHvette)
I hope I'm not hijacking this thread, but my question (as someone who just put the VBP Smart Struts on) is how to set a good camber with yoke play up to an 1/8 " inch? I have about 1/32" of yoke play, and when I wiggle my wheels from the 12/6
o'clock positions, the wheels seem to move quite a bit (due to the yoke play). Wouldn't that make setting camber accurately kind of impossible? :skep:
[Modified by rollavette71, 3:52 PM 4/9/2004]
o'clock positions, the wheels seem to move quite a bit (due to the yoke play). Wouldn't that make setting camber accurately kind of impossible? :skep:
[Modified by rollavette71, 3:52 PM 4/9/2004]
