Movement in rear wheel

[georgem]

Hi,

When I start off I can hear a small clunk from the rear of the car - not a really loud one but something that shouldn`t be there.

My first suspicion went to the rear universal joint but that looks solid (unfortunately its the non replaceable type). The middle one seems ok.  Hmmmm. Maybe the wheels are loose. Passenger side solid but when I started to rock the drivers side there was movement. Grabbing it at 12 and 6 there was some in and out movement and also at 3 and 9. A bit like as if the drum wasn`t tight on the axle flange. The wheel nuts were super tight so I am now curious. I tried to get the drum off by tapping it from the inside but it wouldn`t budge.

So.........my understanding is the drum is held tight against the axle flange by the wheel nuts. If this is the case how could it move if they were tight? Any tips for getting the drum off?  I`ll worry about the clunk once I solve this although they may be related.

Could the wheel nuts be bottoming out before they pinch up the wheel and drum, or are the holes for the wheel nuts open at the bottom?

George

[jpinet]

Unless you have the wrong bolts for your wheels, (changed your wheels?)  they should not be bottoming out. Your car must have bolts, and not simply nuts, that is there are no studs coming out of your wheel. Bolts that are too long will hit the disk. I suspect a bearing more than anything else. If you want to eliminate the possibility of your bolts, add a thick washer and tighten them to see if anything changes.  Of course, don't drive the car like this.

[georgem]

Thanks jpimet - I figured out how to get the drum off - very easy- and cleaned both contact  faces - axle flange and drum - reassembled and found no change but am now convinced that what I thought was a wobble at 12/6 and 3/9 was actually in-out movement of the axle - too much end float.  Thats my next challenge; how  to get the axle out and reduce that.

Cheers

George