Rear axle is loose

kstruckcountry · January 20, 2012

Rotated tires today, and discovered the cause of the clunking sound I've been hearing. With my rear wheel off the ground, I noticed that I have a tiny bit of in/out play. Not much, but enough to make a clunk. That isn't normal, is it? My old truck never did it. I believe I have a 9.5" 14 bolt rear end.

00Silverado4x4 · January 21, 2012

Had same question on my truck awhile back. Two dealerships & a few shops later told me this is normal. I still don't like it but it hasn't caused any problems so I live with it. Also I only discovered as I was rotating tires so I find it odd that you hear a clunking sound. Might have more play than I have.

kstruckcountry · January 21, 2012

Maybe it does have more play. Checked all spring/shock/body mounts and haven't been able to find anything loose. So thats my best guess.

markw8 · January 21, 2012

It sounds normal. You probably aren't hearing the in an out. Your likely hearing all the looseness being taken up in the entire drive line. Some are worse than others. I had a 70 Camaro with quite a klunk going from reverse to drive or vice versa. I beat the hell out of it and didn't hurt it.

Mark

newdude · January 21, 2012

I hear a clunk quite often on 1500 trucks at work when putting the rear tires on during tire rotations. The only thing that comes to mind is that on semi floating axles, all that holds the axle shaft in is a c-clip in the diff, and perhaps when the wheel gets put on it "chucks" the axle the slightest (normal play?) and a clunk noise is a result to it???