Hi, I just had my car at the biannual DMV test here where I live. And I got a note in the papers that the car had alot of slack sideways in the rear axle.

That is, when lifted, if you grabbed the rearwheel, and pushed/pulled outward/inward, it made a clear and consise "clonk" sound, with quite a bit of movement.

Now, I wonder, is this normal? The tester wasnt used to US cars, so he said it was possibly supposed to be that way.....although he did say he found it rather excessive.

SO, is this normal, or not? Was on boths sides btw.

 

It is a function of how they are put together....
Mine has sideways slop as well.. If you shake the car it will "clank" sideways. Mine is normal.

 

The axles use the C-clips to retain themselves, it should have ~3/16" of slop I think, and will clunk. Totally normal. As long as the wheels haven't come off with axles attached, then you still have the c-clips in there, and you're fine.

If the entire rear end is moving, then perhaps the panhard bushings are worn out. The bushings for the panhard are CHEAP, you can get poly ones from summit for $21, and then pick up the specialized bolts to go with it (since they are inevitably rusted and will need to be cut off). You can put in poly panhard bushings yourself with no special tools (unlike LCA or a-arm bushings that need a press).

You can jack up the rear of the car and put axle stands under the frame, then get a buddy to move the rear wheel, then you can see if it's just the axle shafts, or the whole rear end moving.

 

Yeah, 3/16" slop sounds about right... Ok, guess its nothing to worry about then. Thanks