Sticking axles in sitting car?!

[bgd73]

Does it happen? The first 500 miles on my old wagon and a shutter from the rear end when braking hard, like a bent wheel, and it isn't... grabs the whole car, so it is tight... Ya know what happened? It stopped doing it entirely after riding the rear brakes for a bit.... Never encountered this before. Everything is ruled out, but this. the grease is good, bearings are good, hubs and even the pads. 4 straight wheels, all tires the same. No sign of it accellerating or holding steady, handling is tight. was it a Stuck axle?

 

87 d/r 104k miles with a 12/86 on the door, that is about 5k miles a year- of course that didn't happen, so it must have sat still for a long time sometimes...

Anybody know of another cause? I fly down the highway, would love to be certain. ... My best guess is a stuck axle, they look new no rips in boots, did a sharp 360 to the right and left in 4 lo, no clicks.

[4x4_Welder]

If it sat for a while before you got it, then the rear brakes probably rusted up a bit, and the shudder was the shoes going past the pitted area. Once that are was polished back smooth again, the shudder went away.

[bgd73]

If it sat for a while before you got it, then the rear brakes probably rusted up a bit, and the shudder was the shoes going past the pitted area. Once that are was polished back smooth again, the shudder went away.

 

very good possibility. The front rotors were rusted from several days of sitting, they clean up easily. I'll just go with it confidently, had one rear hub off, was clean no rust, car sat leaning sharp to the right for several weeks, I bet thats all it took to get the right side rear hub. Thanks for input, never crossed my mind.

[bgd73]

The problem is back with a vengance. was certain it is not axle. Like a dead spot in a bearing- going to change both bearings and axle. I hope the back end is easier to change than the front, would love some input. No noise going down road must be hovering frictionless. Going slow reveals it to be the right side, and it bothers the left. I am assuming it is that bar 4x4's have that bind the two axles from being too independent of each other making the shudder worse than it isn't. Right side has problem exagerates it to the left. I had the left apart to change two studs, and regreased, banged things around a bit, no water inside etc.never bothered with the right yet. I would guess I am in for a surprise.

[zyewdall]

Before you start changing axles and bearings, see if the brake shoes on the right side are either rusted, or soaking in brake fluid. Might be easier than you think... unless you already checked that and I missed it...

 

Z

[bgd73]

It was indeed easier than I thought ( I hope) .

 

I got up close to the rear driveline while car jacked up. I spun things around, after adding grease and noting both sides were tightly torqued, no axles had ripped boots. I put in 4wd hi and drove around for awhile, and there is now there is no shuttering when braking. The rear end got warm on a 25 degree evening so next step is synthetic gear oil for the rear.It seems "polymerization" is a possiblity with normal gear oil where it gets very cold here sometimes. If that doesn't work, I am going for new beck/arnley hubs (middle of the road quality- better than the cheap, cheaper than acdelco). and having new bearings pressed in. It is an odd setup even with the torques correct. The shutters even made sense if the rear is tight from sitting. Weather left both sides untouched, no water or even dust (except for its own brake dust). Another note is how smooth and quiet it is under acceleration,and throttle level, it only happens in 2wd and when rear is cold while pressing brakes - (when 4wd hasn't been used for awhile). This is similar to my other 87 that made noise with bad bearings, this one makes no noise at all, very comfortable even after long trips on highway, bearings must be good as well as axles.No shakes even into the 80's mph on the highway with an "iffy" tire.Hubs are rusty, pads are good. at 105k I wouldn't be surprised if they are original, as subaru and rear drums are minimally used on the past 3 I have driven for many miles- and alot of city braking.

It is a good idea to second guess a major repair. Thanks for replies.

 

P.S. Enjoy the turkey (if you celebrate thanksgiving dinner- being a native northeaster, I am so full I could pass out at any moment

)

 

 

 

 

[NoahDL88]

If it only happens when you use the brakes, its brake related. I'd also suggest checking on the other side brakes if you haven't yet. Also try to shake each wheel with them off the ground, if they move your rear bearings are toast, happened to me twice. also you should check your front pads and rotors, as if you have a shake from the steering wheel your front rotors could be warped as well.

[bgd73]

I strengthened another rear wheel well, it wasn't nearly as bad as the drivers side, but smashing things with a hammer revealed 20 years. After fixing, a fairly long ride revealed a permanent shake from right rear, the toughened wheel well signalled it stronger. I am definately trying hubs first, bearings are no grind noise and I spun wheels by hand- no sign of slop. The hubs can shake the car without brakes applied as they are doing more than braking on the old soob- they carry the whole should-be-balanced-setup. The 4wd mode doesn't help anymore to stop it. I am still impressed after knowing what my area does to the back ends of the wagons.I Definately saved it today. Thanks for tips.