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Originally Posted by | 1990 ZR-1 |
Quick update. I had a chance to pick up the car from the mechanic this week, and jack it up and inspect it myself. I did not see any bent parts, and I also do not see anything visibly wrong with the diff. The mechanic claimed that the half shaft where it connects to the the diff was loose, but I pulled on it in every which direction by hand and also with a crowbar and it didn't budge. I did notice, however, that the yoke is presssed into the diff about an 1/8 of an inchwhen compared to the passanger side and caused the big spacer with rounded edges rub against the diff housing. I also noticed a little bit of diff fluid on that side, but not enough where it dripped on the floor. I started to inspect the trailing rod bushigs, and noticed that the all have small cracks on them and one on the lower rod connecting to the spidle had a huge crack in it. I removed the lower dog bone and noticecd that the bushing is not centered and looks severily deformed. I ordered a new set of 8 bushings and will repalce them on both sides. I just hope this has not caused any issues with the seal in the diff since the half shaft is pushing into the diff.
I really think that my issue lies in those 21 year old, blown trailing rod bushings. I belive when i had the additional 400lbs loaded in the trunk that day, the extra weight did it. If this is the case, I'm going to take those old busings to my mechanic and will put him to shame, since he's suppose to be the pro, but I, a none mechanic just a handy person, used my brian and figured this out within the 15 minutes I had the wheel off.
I'll keep you guys posted once the poly bushings are installed.
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From your description, I would investgate the diff more, as the mechanic described the problem. Because the half shaft does more than just transfer torque. It acts as a fixed link that controls camber, the lower camber rod is the adjustable one. If the halfshaft could be shortened, it would make negative camber, which is what would happen also if the yoke was pushed in the diff. What you found actually backs up the mechanics findings. If the halfshaft has trully pushed in the diff, then that would affect camber and also toe. A lot of force is pushing inward or outward on the halfshaft normally, depends on what type of driving is taking place and if something broke at the halfshaft yoke while in a hard turn....it could be an exciting ride!
If the yoke is pushed in the diff, there might not be enough adjustment in the camber rod to make for it.
The yoke should have .0045 in. +- .004 in. end play. It seems like if part of the yoke is wearing into the housing, the clearance would be a lot more, unless it was set wrong at the factory.