17 replies to this topic

[TORLX8]

After being told by guys following me I had a wobble in my left rear wheel, I jacked the car up and put it on axle stands and put it in gear to check it out.
Sure enough that wheel had quite a wobble. These wheels are quite new, so in shock I took the wheel down to the local tyre place and had them put it on the balancer to check it out. A relief that the wheel was ok, but thinking that must mean I have a bent axle. The diff was gonna get reconditioned anyway, so I took the whole lot in to the diff place, and sure enough they had to straighten that axle.
Now I thought everything would be good, but after reinstalling the diff, I put it in gear on the axle stands again, and the wobble was still there. I knew it wasnt the wheel, so took the axle out again to take back in and have rechecked. Its fine they say. Maybe a brake drum? So ran the car on axle stands again with the wheel off and the brake drum reversed. Yep, a definite wobble there. So guessing I had a warped drum went and purchased another from the local wreckers. Got home and tried the same test, but that one wobbled too.
At this stage I called the diff place again to see if they had any suggestions, and they suggested maybe the drum wasnt seating properly and to file the centre out a bit. Tried that with no luck.
Im really stumped as to what else it could be.
Any ideas anyone?

[TORLX8]

yep tried that too, and new bearings were put on, so buggered if I know...weird

[rodomo]

Try the other axle in your problem side, but don't drive it! Axles don't like direction change under load. They snap! If the wobble stops it's the axle. If it doesn't maybe the housing is bent or the spigot for that axle gear is worn in the diff centre?

Edited by rodomo, 15 September 2006 - 12:32 AM.

[TORLX8]

Its a 9inch, so axles are different lengths. Whole housing has been checked for straightness, and diff has been reconditioned.
Like you're thinking though, thanks for the suggestions.

[rodomo]

Im still thinking bent axle. Try another rim? Balance may be o.k. but rim may be bent?

[TORLX8]

I know its not the wheel, that was the 1st thing I checked. Took it to the tyre place and put it on the balancer. Perfect.
I reckon its either gotta be axle or brake drum. Drum wobbles without the wheel on.
Another suggestion I just had from Greenmachine was to bolt up wheel without brake drum. Will try that one tomorrow.

cheers.

[GML-31]

I take it all your control arm bushes are OK?? if they are worn they will make a small wobble look 10 times worse.

[TORLX8]

Control arms and bushes are all brand new.
No, wheels dont have rings in the bores.
Axle flange may be something else to look at.

I'm sure we'll eventually nail this...Thanks

[TORLX8]

Just bolted up the wheel without the brake drum on and its perfect.
Somethings wrong with the brake drum by the looks, but I also tried another brake drum and same thing happens????

[rodomo]

Maybe the drum is distorting as you pull up the nuts. Make sure your drums are identical. Swap drums to the problem side and see if this fixes it. I think I read somewhere that Holden rear drums differ from model to model e.g HK/T/G and Torry where they can have a different dish?
Intrigued now,
Good Luck!

[TORLX8]

These are all great possible solutions to the problem. Thanks all.
I got pissed off with it all yesterday, and booked it in to a brake place and just put it all back together. Thought I'd just check it in drive on the axle stands again. To my shock the wobble had gone. This had me really intrigued, why had it suddenly gone away? I went to the brake place anyway so everything could be checked and properly adjusted up and told him what had happened. He reckons I just may not have lined up the dimple in the brake drum with the hole in the axle.
OMG I was so pissed off with myself, how could I miss something so simple.
Quite embarrassing really.
Guaranteed i won't make that mistake again.