Help with diagnosis of drive train problem????

[csnow]

I have a problem with my right rear drive train. I have a noticeable in and out wobble on my tire that causes the car to shake like heck above 70. I originally thought I had a bent rim, but after getting new rims and tires, the problem was still there. Took it back to the tire place and they showed me the rim on the balancer and it was perfectly straight. When it was on the lift, I could see a noticeable wobble on the axle. I got a good deal on an axle from MattOneDime on SF so I replaced it this morning. However, I am still seeing the problem. While the axle was out, I did check the diff for play on the input shaft flange but it felt fine. I went ahead and pulled the rotor because you could hear the rotor scrubbing as it wobbled while in gear on jacks. I thought maybe the rotor was badly warped. With the caliper and rotor hat off, I put the spare on it and the wobble was still there. My only guess would be the wheel bearing. Has anyone seen a pressed wheel bearing cause a wobble like this, or do you think the spindle could be warped? I bought the car from a guy that has had it since 1990 and I know it has never been in an accident. Also, there is not evidence of anything bent i.e control arms and such.

Thanks in advance for any comments you guys/gals can share.

Chris

 

[shaeff]

i'm willing to bet it's the wheel bearing. it sure sounds like it!

http://www.cygnusx1.net/supra/library/TSRM/ra/RA_06.html

-shaeff

 

[mrnickleye]

Nope...haven't ever seen a bearing give a wobble. They squeel, whine, or grind. They even let the wheel camber get negative. Sounds like a bent hub, or spindle.

Remove the wheel, put a couple of lugnuts back on to hold the rotor in place, and let it idle in gear. (be sure to have both wheels off the ground if you have LSD).

Does the rotor wobble?? Yes?? Remove the rotor and let it idle in gear. (don't step on the brake peddle with caliper out of place and rotor off)

Does the hub wobble?? yes?? the you'll need to get a new(or used) one.

***please seperate your posts into paragraphs so its easier to read.***

 

[cjsupra90]

I have seen both bent/warped drive flanges and or bearing cause this although it is rare, it is most likely one or the other. an easy way to tell if it is a bearing is to take the wheel off and put a couple of nuts back on to holf the rotor on tight and see if you can grab the top and bottom and or the front and rear of the rotor and see if you can wobble it in and out. I dont mean pushing the hole thing in and out, but actually pushing on the top and pulling on the bottom and vice versa. you shouldn't be able to move it. if it wobbles then it most likely the bearing. if no wobble is present then its most likely a bent or warped drive flange.

 

[csnow]

Thanks guys,

I am going to try to source a whole hub assembly from a guy on SF. No one here would assume its the diff, right? He has one of those too for a good price but I don't think the diff would cause what I am seeing.

 

[mrnickleye]

Not the diff. Wheels are independant of the diff. Do what cjsupra90 said about tipping(pulling/pushing the wheel at the top, jacked up of course.
S/B no play.