[RallySnake]

Ernie,

I had exactly the problem you described, a few months ago. The problem was the wheel bearings. The right rear outer bearing was frozen and the inner hub sleeve was spinning inside the inner race of the bearing. I thought I had a flat tire or something. When I jacked up the car, I could feel about one eighth inch of play when I wiggled the tire at the top and bottom.

I took the whole thing apart and called George Petrus. George builds really neat custom rear end parts like outboard brakes for Jag rear ends. When I explained to George that I just wanted to fix my car, not re-engineer it, he told me to call Kurt Hamilton.

So, I called Kurt Hamilton (818-943-2323) at his shop in Van Nuys, CA. He explained the clearances, preload requirements and everything necessary to make the rearend SAFE! After deciding that I did not have the tools to do the job right, myself, I gave him my hubs and spare hubs and half shafts. He rebuilt everything using new seals, new U-joints and new bearings. He said the preload in the lower hub pivots is critical as is the preload for the bearings.

After putting my car back together, it is much more trustworthy. I've been flinging it around curves on several rallies with absolute confidence. One of the tihngs I learned from Kurt is that the plugs that fit in the large holes of the hub must not seal. They have small beather holes the allow air to move in and out with temperature changes. If they are sealed, The pressure builds up and forces the grease out of the bearings. Not good!

I hope this helps,
Paul