Play in rear end

[Rifter_Chevy]

Originally Posted by 78 Chevyrado

I don't know exactly what would cause that, and still run at all.

Check your axle shafts under the wheel hub caps and make sure they are bolted down tight and havent slipped. if thats fine, pull the cover and see whats wrong.

I don't know what would give it that much slop and still function at all. Maybe the carrier bearings are loose, or the pinion itself has worked lose. can you grab the pinion and move it sided to side OR in and out? just grab the driveshaft and try to move it.

either way the covers gotta come off, now im curious.

Good luck!

Axles are tight on the hubs.

Driveshaft moves about 45 degrees in either direction when its parked, I can grab it and move it a quarter turn in either direction before contact with the gears. Thats the problem, thats whats causing the noise when i go from drive to reverse it takes 45 degrees before the driveshaft is connecting to the gears and moving the tires. U joints are good i checked them already it was my first thought.

Pinion does not move at all, side to side or in and out.

All my local guys are telling me its a backlash issue or loose carrier bearings.

Im going to a buddies tommorow to try and fix the backlash as its easy to do on a 14 bolt. Failing that he has a dana 70 sitting around he will sell me and ill swap it into the truck, its got different gears so i wont have 4x4 till i regear it but it will get me rolling for now.

Thanks for the inut guys.