Side to Side play in Axles

[65wagone]

Just picked up new TR and when I made a right turn it sounded like something was rubbing/grinding. Stopped and when I pulled wheels back and forth the axles clanked in the center section and at the backing plate.
I jacked the car up and it has about 1/4 - 3/8 inch side to side play. Makes a clunking sound.
Any ideas?
Do I need to take it apart?

 

[johnnyttype]

they should clank when pulled back and forth but i dont know off hand how far they should move, but sounds alittle excessive if u can hear it in the car. is ur suspension stock setup in rear or r there aftermarket parts?

 

[65wagone]

Boxed lowers, airbags, Competition Engineering shocks. I think that's it.
I'm just worried something is loose or will be causing me a serious problem soon.

 

[johnnyttype]

Boxed lowers, airbags, Competition Engineering shocks. I think that's it.
I'm just worried something is loose or will be causing me a serious problem soon.

so is there two seperate noises? one grinding and the other being the clunk when u jacked car up and pulled on wheel. im not too familiar with the air bags and if any noise can be caused by them but check to see if there r any poly bushings back there, i have poly bushings and they tend to make noise when it is wet or humid outside.

like i said the clunking is normal for any c-clip equipped car. if it worries u, u can take the rear diff cover off and take a look inside. inside u can check the gap between the axles and case pin to see if there is too much play.

 

[65wagone]

I think that's what I'll do. Sometime over the next couple of months I plan on swapping to better axles, c-clip eliminators, etc.
Thanks...

Mark

 

[65wagone]

Took the rear cover off and found slight amount of play with each axle. The main problem is the side-to-side movement of the posi. It appears it was not shimmed correctly when installed. I don't see any damage to the gears.
Anybody else seen this?

 

[johnnyttype]

it could be improperly shimed, if u take a cap off u could tell if they r the original shims, should be just one per side or if its been shimed before using a steel spacer along with a smaller shim on each side.

it also could be worn out bearings or the outside of the case. ive seen that before where u could grab the unit and move it side to side.

my guess would be the worn bearings. hth!