So troubleshooting an issue with my friend's 91 camaro z28 where in forward or reverse there is a grinding clunking sound that happens until up to speed. Feels like it is coming from behind seats when in car. Checked over drivetrain, universals and trans mounts are new and tight, and the arm from trans to diff seems solid. One thing I notice is that the rear hubs can be easily pulled in and out 3/8" on both sides, is that normal? I popped the housing plate on the diff and everything seems undamaged, I can see internally the axle hit the pinion shaft when pushed in and held from sliding all the way out by the C clip. Does anyone have any thought or suggestions of what I should do or look at now? If you want pics of anything I can take them.

 

Must have the Auburn differential in it. The Auburn is worn out and that is where the axle end play is coming from. If you replace it with a new Eaton Posi or Yukon Dura Grip the axle end play will go away and you will have a much better differential too.

As for the grinding, check to see if the brake rotors are hitting on the caliper brackets or something else. With that much axle end play they are sure to be hitting on something.

 

Thanks, I'll grab a pic later but it has five little springs identical to this one http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...IRE/Auburn.jpg
so I'm guessing that it's an Auburn. I will let him know. It's got drum breaks on the rear so this might be what he needs to finally do a swap for disk since I've got it this much apart already.

 

my car is doing the same, time to change to a eaton posi.

 

5 springs is the Auburn. http://www.nastyz28.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19773