rear axle problem

31st August 2013, 20:30

I've got a small knock coming from my passenger side rear, just jacked the rear up to inspected it and I've noticed 2 things:

1) I can lift it up with little effort (unlike the other side which is as you expect stiff) making me think the shocks gone there for nocking.

2) there's a bit of play (by abit i mean the smallest amount but its more then then the drivers side and i know the olilite bush is common for having the smallest bit of play as its a bush) in that side as well making me think the olilite bush has gone in that side.

3) the passenger side wheel seems to be sitting lower then the drivers side while in the air and sits higher when back on the ground I can just about get 2 fingers between arch and top of tyre on drivers side yet easily 3 fingers on passenger side between arch and tyre.

Just to clear a few things up I've got billy b8's, olilite bush axle lowered 40mm around 4 years old and imaxles also changed the drivers side rear bush around a year ago.

Any advice is good cheers

31st August 2013, 20:43

Swap the dampers over, see if the play is still there.

31st August 2013, 20:43

Fit some known working shocks and go from there

Make sure the shock bolts are tight.

Make sure the axle to body bolts are torqued up as well.

When bushes or bearings start to wear, it's more of a click than a knock. Oillite is very hard wearing, but after 4 years of whatever kind of driving it could be starting to wear a bit oval.

Feeling a click by lifting the wheel up and down is most likely to be the shock.

Passenger side, if you grab the wheel at 10 and 4 position, and rock it then that's bearing play. do it with the shock on and off to see if there's a change.

Or when you remove the shock, you can feel it by hand, action should be smooth.

31st August 2013, 20:46

Cheers for the advice I'll swop shocks round tomorrow to check for that, I know the bolts are tight shock wise but I will double check axle to chassis bolts.

Its done around 25k on the axle.

Thanks again for all the advice.

3rd September 2013, 12:25

I had chance to look last night and the arb end plate 13mm bolt on the drivers side had come out abit and damaged the thread, so it was sticking out and clanging on the passenger side end plate, ive now drilled and tapped it to an m10 bolt an fingers crossed all seems good