1967 Rear Axle play "Loose"

[Ken's67]

A 1967 327/350HP 4speed Corvette with 85K miles. I just got the car, and have not had time to check into this problem yet. The rear end seems to be very "loose." When I let "off" the gas, I can feel the rear end move.(side-to-side) If I jack the back of the car up, I can move the top of tires in and out about 1/4 of an inch. (side-to side). What should I look for and check on the car? Is there a command problem with the 1/2 shaft, yokes, yoke spacers, bushings, ect..? Any clues would be very helpful.
Thanks, Ken

 

[magicv8]

All of the above, but first spindle bearings, then strut rod bushings, and Ujoints - then the control arm bushings. The test is whether you can move the top of the eheels that much with the wheels on the ground. If so, likely the spindle bearings.

 

[WayneC]

In addition to what magicv8 said...

If you can move the whole wheel that much, it should be easy to have someone watch the parts connecting the wheel to the differential to see where the "give" is (ie, one part moving in relation to the adjacent part). The side yokes on the differential are an area of concern, if you can see a side yoke move in & out of the axle more than about 1/16 inch, it's a problem... either excessive yoke wear, or someone didn't bother to replace the (internal) retaining C-clips.

Since the axles hang down when the car is lifted off the ground in the rear, you need to be sure the movement you see is not simply a change in the swing axle angle as you push & pull.

 

[IH2LOSE]

." When I let "off" the gas, I can feel the rear end move.(side-to-side)

Welcome to the forum and congradulations on getting a car.

The rear suspention on our cars is a engeneering master piece.I still dont understand what keeps the rear trailing arms from twisting out of the wheels wells.But to answer your question.Does it feel unsafe as if some thing is falling a part.Does it clunk or any thing.Have you looked every thing over to see its all tight. The third carrier (gear section) is mounted to rear cross member with 4 bolts that are unacessable when installed in the car,the rear crossmember is mounted to the body via 2 bolts through these big rubber cusions called sombraro's.The rear trailing arms are mounted with only 1bolt through the frame kick up (This area is prone to rustIt doesnot need to be shimmed because of the rust ) and needs to be shimmed to get a proper alainment.If some shims are not in it may move in and out under aceleration and de celeration.

How do the tires look any funney wear? Good luck and keep us posted

 

[JohnZ]

When the rear end feels "loose" and feels like it's moving side-to-side, that's almost always a sign that the toe-in shims for the front bushing on one or both of the rear trailing arms have fallen out, allowing the bushing to move laterally; this also allows the rear toe-in to change as you accelerate/decelerate, which tends to "steer" the car with the accelerator. That's the first thing I'd check.