oil and adding posi trac? will changing the oil and adding positive traction additive take some of that slack out?
It's a Dana 44 independent rear suspension.
It has about 1/8 inch of slack in the side yokes.
It has about 1/8 inch of slack in the side yokes.
Here are some videos of the yoke play.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ice_cream_man/4035808320/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ice_cream_man/4035802720/
The u-joints are fine. I replaced the 2 right side u-joints during a trailing arm replacement. The others on the left are fine also. I had to tighten up the yoke nut on the left wheel spindle and while doing so removed the half-shaft and check the other u-joints.
The 1/8 of an inch slack (in and out) is just a visual. I haven't measured the actual movement ... that's why I provided the video of me moving the tires in and out and back and forth ... so an experienced person can see themselves the amount of play.
That amount of play at the yoke on a Corvette's IRS translates to a lot of tire movement.
I have read that the end play should be no more than .008 inches.
http://www.corvetterepair.org/c3bearing.html
I'll try the oil change and additive and see what I can learn from it. The bad thing about the oil change is there is no oil plug to drain the oil on a 81 Corvette Dana 44 IRS. You just about have to break the differential apart to get it all out (old oil and metal shavings). If I tear it down it will be only to do a rebuild. I have a service manual for the Dana 44 IRS rear end coming ... should be here tomorrow.
I'll siphon the old oil out ... add the posi additive... and then see what the results are.
My bad.... the author says no more than .050 end play.
It's a Dana 44 independent rear suspension.
It has about 1/8 inch of slack in the side yokes.
It has about 1/8 inch of slack in the side yokes.
Here are some videos of the yoke play.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ice_cream_man/4035808320/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ice_cream_man/4035802720/
The u-joints are fine. I replaced the 2 right side u-joints during a trailing arm replacement. The others on the left are fine also. I had to tighten up the yoke nut on the left wheel spindle and while doing so removed the half-shaft and check the other u-joints.
The 1/8 of an inch slack (in and out) is just a visual. I haven't measured the actual movement ... that's why I provided the video of me moving the tires in and out and back and forth ... so an experienced person can see themselves the amount of play.
That amount of play at the yoke on a Corvette's IRS translates to a lot of tire movement.
I have read that the end play should be no more than .008 inches.
http://www.corvetterepair.org/c3bearing.html
I'll try the oil change and additive and see what I can learn from it. The bad thing about the oil change is there is no oil plug to drain the oil on a 81 Corvette Dana 44 IRS. You just about have to break the differential apart to get it all out (old oil and metal shavings). If I tear it down it will be only to do a rebuild. I have a service manual for the Dana 44 IRS rear end coming ... should be here tomorrow.
I'll siphon the old oil out ... add the posi additive... and then see what the results are.
My bad.... the author says no more than .050 end play.