Does anyone know how much movement in the direction parallel to the axle there should be in a chevy 12 bolt rear. I jacked the car up so that both wheels were off the ground and pushed/pulled the rear wheel. The housing does not move, but the axle moves inside the housing maybe 3/16 of an inch.

Frank

Mine moves that far also, might indicate that your posi clutches are starting to wear a bit.

Dave

Not sure if 3/16 is normal or excessive, but the axles do have end play.

These are c-clips holding the axles in the carrier, the end play is between the axle shaft and clips against the carrier and axle shaft against the differential pinion gear shaft

3/16" is excessive but there really isn't anything to wear that would cause that much end play, unless the c-clips themselves are wearing. That's about how much they move when you remove the pinion shaft to take the c-clips out. Are you sure you are measuring it right?

Tom

Maybe this will help,along with Daves post.




http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u56/MikeManer/19554010-E36.jpg