DxC

Hey guys. So I started a new job recently that has me driving further than normal. Last week I developed a shimmy while accelerating at about 60-70 mph. So I figured great it's the axles. So this weekend I got around to doing the axle cup swap left to right/right to left. Fairly straight forward just annoying more than anything. To my surprise I found almost no abnormal(or any) wear inside the cups after cleaning the fairly clean looking grease out. Driving to work today I felt it again but it came on at a slower speed. And now when I shift at a slow speed/take off it almost feels like there is "slop" there somehow. Like the diff spins and then hits the axles. Did I do something wrong? Or do I need new axles. I rotated my tires so unknown it's not like missing weights and it only seems to happen on acceleration.

Thanks in advance. Also slightly lowered on tien coil overs. coo

Slowcrash_101

Have you checked your front tie rod ends?

DxC

I have checked them and I do have a torn boot and am planning on replacing them eventually, but the shaking is in the seat not in the steering wheel.

DxC

Side question. Are the for lack of a better term "spider bearings" on the axles that slide into the cups supposed to be loose, or should they be stuck tithe axle?

Slowcrash_101

A tiny amount of play is normal. What about your diff mount?

DxC

Hey slow thanks for your help. I am an idiot and either tried to put one of the bearings on upside or it fell off and I didn't notice? I got under the car again tonight and realized one of the bearings had slipped off and that's where the noise was coming from. DOH! Seems all good now. Tight as a drum.

s2000Junky

They are supposed to slide in and out of the grooves in the cups as the suspension moves up and down, with the axel out of the car there should be no play wile twisting the cups fore/aft, should only slide in and out. There is play on the slip yoke/flange of each side of the diff up and down, and this can be felt when you push up and down on the axels when connected to the diff.

re check all your diff bolts that connect to the half shafts as well as the main driveline. It very well could be the tires out of balance from the get go. Sometimes just swapping them on a different axle/side of car can magnify what was an unnoticeable issue previously. The axel cup wear is much more a harsh high frequency vibration, rather then a shimmy. Tire balance is a shimmy/jiggles sensation.

You should have found inner cup wear marks from the prop shaft if that was the issue. Doesnt sound like it was to me.