Right Rear Tire Wobble?

USMC93 · Jul 2, 2020

I was cruising around yesterday in my 69’ when 2 people pulled up and told me my wheel was wobbling. It’s not drastic but it’s noticeable to say the least.

I checked the lugs and they are all tight. I am going to swap the rear wheels today and see if the wobble follows which I would assume means bent rim. If the wobble stays I would assume it means bent axle?

Any other suggestions or theories? Really hoping it’s not a bent axle.

I have drums on the back, TKO600, GM 12 bolt posi with 3.73...I have never noticed this before and I don’t do burnouts or drive like a wild man so idk how I would have bent my axle.

bhodgdon400 · Jul 2, 2020

what wheels are you running? rally wheels? if so, is it possible a trim ring is not clipped on all the way and that's what the passers by noticed? i only ask because i've had the same problem. i have one trim ring that will not fully seat but will not fly off. i've had a couple people at red lights tell me the wheel was wobbling.

SoCal805 · Jul 2, 2020

bent rim, axle or as noted trim ring is not seated flat if you have that kind of rim

Jack up rear end, block front tire, start car and put in gear at idle. You should be able to see if tire is wobble especially looking at the inward side.

You can also swap rear tires doing this to see if the issue migrates over to the other side and if not the axle flange is bent or the wheel bearing is shot although that likely would be making noise

SOA-Nova · Jul 2, 2020

Are you running aftermarket or non-stock wheels ?. I had an issue years ago with the balance weight on the drum not allowing the aftermarket rim to sit flat against the axle brake drum flange and it too gave the impression of a bent rim and/or axle.

Once I figured out what was going on I ground the weight down and then found a local shop that could spin balance the wheel, tire, and axle flange assembly as one complete rotating mass to where the wheel balace weights were helping with any drum imbalance. I did though have to mark the rim and a stud on each corner so if the rim ever got removed I could clock it back to the right spot it was balanced at.

Jim

USMC93 · Jul 2, 2020

I’m running 15 inch Billet Specials. 275 in the back 245 up front.

I took it to a body shop near me that does classic cars. Good guys. They came out and crawled underneath and said just by looking at it they can tell that my tires in the rear are showing wear of rubbing on something and that my leaf spring perch on the side the wobble is on have a broken weld that he could see was already welded once before.

they said they could just weld it strong and right but they want to make sure that the axle and rear are fine otherwise they would just be putting a band aid on it. They recommended me to a great shop that specializes in axles and rear difs. Hope it’s just the broken welds

USMC93 · Jul 6, 2020

Okay.

I pulled my axle today and replaced the axle bearing and seal. Visual inspection showed no signs of a bent axle or axle flange at all. Bearing was replaced and gear fluid put it. Tire wobble is still there.....any suggestions?

my last resort now is to try to get different lugs because these ones are a pain in the *** to get on.

I have noticed a little more play on the right side where the wobble is than on the left when I have it jacked up. Could itbe something with the drum or breaks???

SoCal805 · Jul 6, 2020

does the drum on the PS match the one on DS in terms of height?

allanjs · Jul 6, 2020

Are you sure it's bad lug nuts and not the studs or both? I suggest you take it to the rear end shop that was recommended. Replacing bearings for no real cause is wasting $$. An axle would have to be badly bent to see it without v-blocks and indicator (or similar) setup. Or start by taking the wheel to a balance shop and have them spin it to see if it's bent. This is going to take physical inspection and we can't do that on the internet.

Right Rear Tire Wobble?

USMC93

bhodgdon400

SoCal805

SOA-Nova

USMC93

USMC93

SoCal805

allanjs

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