Rear End Noise - C2 1965

[Robert Wingerter]

I need help diagnosing a new noise coming from the rear passenger side wheel. I drive this car daily and just in the past two days this noise came from nowhere and is now so loud, I parked it.

The noise is 'rotational' - faster I go, the faster the metal-on-metal screeching sound -- something like "screeeeech......screeech.... screech..screech.screeech". I put it on the lift and could NOT duplicate the noise. However, on test drives, its seems to be really loud under load/acceleration and almost non-existent when coasting. Also, when first taking off or backing up, there is a loud 'clunk' (bad u-joints?)

A little history: I pulled this car from a barn in December '05(literally). Family owned since 1973, unrestored, not driven since 1990. I put in new brake system end-to-end (new hard lines, 2 new rear rotors, new SS parking brake hardware, calipers,MC, etc); new fuel pump, carb rebuild; all new cooling system end-to-end, and replaced engine gaskets. I've been driving almost daily since February. It has a little more than 60,000 originial miles. All suspension rubber is original, dried, cracked and worn as you would expect a car of this mileage and vintage.

Any help would be apprecaited. Thanks!

[Timothy B.]

Re: Rear End Noise - C2 1965

Robert,

Sound like the rear axle front rubber mount is wore out or loose and the rear is flexing up and down. Get under the car and look at the mount and also look for rubbing where the driveshaft attaches to the rear.

[Kyle Zevena]

Re: Rear End Noise - C2 1965

put it up on stands and rotate the rear wheel, they should be smooth with no noticeable "bumps" but should take a little effort.

I had the same thing you described and the rear bearings was the culprit in my case. before the bearing replacement my rear wheels spun easily by definately had a "dry" feel and I could feel the spindle turning over each bearing as I turned the wheel.

I ended up rebuilding the T-arms (bering and bushing) and replacing all the rear suspension bushings while I was at it. Wow what a difference. Have fun with that "new" 65 of yours!!!

[Robert Wingerter]

Re: Rear End Noise - C2 1965

Did you rebuild them or did someone do it for you?

PS: Your answer was what I was expecting but not wanting to hear... classic denial. ;-)

[Kyle Zevena]

Re: Rear End Noise - C2 1965

I removed them myself (relatively straight forward) I apparently got lucky and they came out without the need for a fire powered wrench or sawsall....I soaked the pivot bolts several times a day for 2 days prior to attempting the removal. once the strut rod, shock and spring were out of the way I banged on the shims a few times to loosen the rust then tapped and turned the pivot bolt while an assistant jiggled the t-arm around on the pivot and viola....

I had a local performance shop press out the bearings, I refished the arms and other components myself and had the shop install the new bearings. check the archives and restorer articles on cautions regarding removal and installation of the strut rod from the spindle support as you dont want to break off the "ears" of the spindle support.

[Jim T.]

Re: Rear End Noise - C2 1965

Some of the best money you will ever spend on your 65 is to remove the complete trailing arms and send them to www.bairs.com and have them rebuilt. They will even send you boxes to ship them in. FED-EX surface shipping is reasonable. Very few have the correct tools and knowledge to properly take care of your rear wheel bearings to give you trouble free service when completed.

[John M.]

Re: Rear End Noise - C2 1965

Robert,
That is the typical sound of a shot u-joint. There are six of these to check so look at the right rear half shaft first and then the others. It will show up as a loose (not solid)feeling when you put some force on them by pushing hard on the joint. If it's not that then the trailing arm spindle bearings are next and Bairs are great.