Rear Axle: Driving backwards ...

[Santosh]

When I am driving backwards in my 60 Hawk, it is rocking !???

So, I think something in the Rear Axle is broken, am I right?

Which parts should be exchanged?



I am grateful for every help

[Ron Dame]

I doubt that, although it might be if it is a Twin Traction rear, I'll let others answer that one

It could also be incorrectly mounted brake shoes (front or rear) or if your car has overdrive, it could be a sprag clutch in it trying to lock up..maybe an incorrectly adjusted lock out cable. If it's an automatic, the trans could be slipping.

[E. Davis]

When I am driving backwards in my 60 Hawk, it is rocking !???

So, I think something in the Rear Axle is broken, am I right?

Which parts should be exchanged?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]14147[/ATTACH]

I am grateful for every help

Define "Rocking"..

[SN-60]

ANSWER:--------------- Start driving around forwards!!

[kmac530]

How far, and how fast are you driving backwards?

[kmac530]

Possibly a ball joint gone bad and when you start driving backwards the spindle is moving. Or an upper control arm shaft is loose and when you start driving backwards you are feeling it shift.
Or maybe a rear leaf spring has a bad bushing or the spring pad and U-bolts are loose and the axle is shifting around...could be something shifying around being the point.

[K-Hawk]

drive backwards put in neutral or hit clutch what happens? pump the brakes what happens? Keep trying to eliminate parts of the drive train then look at what is left. good luck

[Santosh]

Thanks,
I will check again tomorrow

[Blue 15G]

Possibly a ball joint gone bad and when you start driving backwards the spindle is moving. Or an upper control arm shaft is loose and when you start driving backwards you are feeling it shift.
Or maybe a rear leaf spring has a bad bushing or the spring pad and U-bolts are loose and the axle is shifting around...could be something shifying around being the point.

Ball joints on a Studebaker?

Dave Bonn
'54 Champion Starliner

[tbirdtbird]

Don't know what 'rocking' means, need a more detailed explanation. Bad universal joint? Tho you should feel that either direction.

[kmac530]

I don't own a Stude that has anything other than a straight axle so I do not know what Stude uses on independant control arm suspensions...sorry for my mis-speaking. Whatever it is that connects the control arms to the Spindles and to the frame, when those go very bad there can be a play in them that can shift fore and aft or side to side especially in direction changes causeing a car to move oddly possibly feeling like a wobble, shimmy, shake, or rocking.
This can happen from ANY connection on the steering or suspension, like ball joints, tie rod ends, king pins, bushings, bearings.......
That is all I was saying....check all suspension connections, even on the front, even though you seem to feel it in the rear.

[warrlaw1]

E-brake cable siezed up?

[laughinlark]

A bent wheel or axle, separated tire Block the front wheels. Jack up the rear of the car and place it on stands or blocked up for support. Put it in gear and take a close look with the wheels on and then wheels off.

Gordon S