I have some vibration. It starts around 40 mph. I changed the u-joints. That wasnt it. Put the car on the lift. Left rear tire wiggled like wheel bearing. Bought a wheel bearing. Put the car back on the lift. Left tire was solid and right tire wiggled. It was moving in and out towards the diff. put it down drove it and put it back up the in and out movement had changed back to the left. Anyone have any idea what could cause this? Is it suppose to have some slack in there?

 

There is an amount the axle moves in and out.

But what wiggled? The LR tire wiggled, or the wheel did? Did it wiggle up and down or inwards / outwards from the diff assembly? What was run-out (how much did it wiggle?)

Did the RH wheel wiggle before the LH bearing was replaced? See above questions with regard to the RH wheel?

How many miles are on the car? How did the c-clip and inboard section of the LH axle look when you did the bearing?

 

It moved inwards and outwards of the diff. I didnt replace the bearing because i came back to do it and the wheel didnt move it had changed sides. I have checked it three times now and each time the opposite wheel would move inward/outward towards the diff. so i concluded it isnt a bearing but something else the car has 120000 miles and the amount of movement is approxiamtely 1/4 to 1/2 inch.

Next step when have a chance, remove diff. cover and check clips?

 

Thank you for your input.

 

If it's switching from side to side and sometimes one side runs smooth and true, yes you'd want to open the diff up and check the axle ends by pulling them, the c-clips, the cross-pin (careful with the small bolt that retains it.) And the outer ends where the bearing uses the axle as an inner race.

 

The following sticky may prove useful:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tran...ing-axles.html

JamesC

 

There is always a certain amount of in-out slack in those axles; at least 1/16", sometimes 1/8". That won't cause a vibe. Axle bearings won't change it, because the axle just slides in and out through the bearing.

Some actual troubleshooting, instead of guessing, is required.

First thing you need to determine is, is your "vibration" at wheel speed, or is it at drive shaft speed? (difference of about a factor of 3) Realize of course that the possible causes for the 2 don't overlap; and if the problem is REALLY something at drive shaft speed but you dink around with wheels, you will NEVER EVER even get close to locating the problem, let alone fixing it; or vice-versa.

So: is this "vibration" more like "wubbawubbawubbawubba" as it just starts up at its lowest speed as you drive down the road, or more like "hmmmmmmmmmmm"? Are you SURE it's the rear?