How much "slop"??

[64ragtop]

I've been hearing a "clunk" when shifting from reverse to forward gears in the ragtop. Been ASSuming that it was a U-joint getting flakey, like I've dealt with before. Put the car up on jackstands and turned the driveshaft expecting to see the slack in the U-joint, but didn't - it's in the rear housing. to make sure, I turned the yoke, not the driveshaft. It seems like there's about 1/4 inch of play. It's an 8.25, non Sure Grip. Is this something to worry about NOW, or plan a rebuild in the not too distant future, or use a thicker differential lube and don't worry? "yeah, SURE" on that last option - I've never had that kind of luck!

 

[66340SEDAN]

One thing you want to make sure is that your idle on your engine is not too high, lowering the rpm's will help with the clunk. I had a 73 Duster that did this (7 1/4 rear) and I was nervous that it was not going to last. If you drive the car a lot you may want to get it checked out or fixed. Heavier weight lube, wouldn't hurt to try it!

 

[Robbie2734]

Believe it or not, my Barracuda did that brand new. Had it back 3 times before they got it right. It now has quite a few more milesand a new carrier, but I put 90,000 on that rear without a hint of trouble. It is a 8 3/4, with 3:23's.

 

[fishy68]

1/4 inch is alot of slop but my old Dakota with a 8-1/4 had that much play by the time I checked it out at approx. 70,000 miles and I raced it alot and it went to over 120,000 miles before the rear let go. It ran mid 14's in the 1/4 so it stressed the rearend pretty much considering the ammount of slop. Things like this are really hard to predict though. If I were you I'd pull the rear cover and check things out and if it don't look too bad fill it with new lube.