The no tools approach to rear end diagnosis:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Chock/block the tires.
3. Put the transmission in neutral.
4. Reach under the car, grab the driveshaft in front of the differential,
and rotate and wiggle the drive shaft.
5. Note how much rotation you have, listen for noises, and note how
much wiggle you have.
6. Leaving the parking brake on, remove the tire blocks and put the car in
gear.
7. Standing at the rear wheel well, push the car forward and backward.
(This is with the parking brake still firmly set.)
8. Note any sounds (apart from your grunting), any excessive spring flex,
any axel housing rotation.
9. Block tires on right side, release the parking brake, leaving the car in
gear.
10.Jack left rear tire off the ground, grab and rotate the tire but do not
let your fingers get between the bottom of the tire and the ground
(just in case the jack fails). Also push the tire in and out,
perpendicular to the side of the car.
11.Note any noises or suspicious excessive movement.
12.Repeat #9-#11, only reversing left and right.
With your tool-less notes (apart from the use of the jack), you should be
able to tell if you have a loose or worn spindle bearing in the
differential, possibly if you have a worn ring/pinion gear set, if you have
loose bolts holding the diff to the springs, if you have loose or broken
spring leafs, if you have (possibly) worn or sloppy u-joints, or possibly
if you have worn splines (assuming wire wheels).
If nothing else you will have notes to give a mechanic, or post here for
our on-line diagnosis.
mike. (hoping this made sense)
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