1977 L-82

[Joe Palmer]

Please help. I'm going crazy trying to solve this problem. I have a strange noise comming from the right rear. It appears to be in the wheel. This noise is not a clunking or grinding sound. I do not notice it on a straight way at normal or high speed. The noise is most obvious when turning a corner at a slow speed.

I've changed the spindle, the bearings twice, (Once with the spindle and again after the onset of the noise)the leaf spring and bushings, shocks, and the inner and outer u-joints.

Please help

Joe

[Paul L.]

Re: 1977 L-82

Change the differential fluid and use GM posi additive. The noise will go away.

[Al S.]

Re: 1977 L-82

This problem is especially true when the fluid gets warm. Even my '79 Impala station wagon (which I purchased new) needed a fluid change every 20,000 miles or so. After a ride home from the beach on a warm summer nite, I'd get off the highway on to the local roads and it would sound like the rear was gonna fall out of the car the banging was so loud. You've got to use the additive along with the new gear oil for the best results. My 77 L-48 also does the same thing. The reason it's happening on turns and not on straight-a-ways is that the clutches in the rear aren't releasing, they're binding, and around turns, as you know the wheels rotate at different speeds and the clutches need to slip at that point.

[Paul L.]

Re: 1977 L-82

That's exactly the source of the problem!

[Clem Z.]

Re: 1977 L-82

use synthetic gear oil with the additive and it will last for years. my 1988 C-2500 had synthetic gear oil and additive put in 95000 miles ago and no grabbing in the turns. after you change the fluid go the a large parking lot and do slow figure 8s to get the new lube in between the posi plates.

[Geoff C.]

Clem I agree completely, but its really *NM* *NM*

[Clem Z.]

hey doc,

how come you are not in the sunny but not warm south with the rest of the incorrigibles???

[Ralph E.]

Re: hey doc,

The DOC must be too busy learning his new cooking trade to go south