View Full Version : Noticable Play in IRS Rear Wheels
Just finishing up the body assembly (hood, hatch, doors, etc.) prior to delivering to restoration shop for body prep and painting. After completing the fuel filler cap and filler installation, I reinstalled the right rear wheel and tightened the lug nuts. Just to check, I moved the tire/wheel back and forth and was surprised to feel significant play in the wheel. I first thought the lug nuts were still loose, but a check with a torque wrench showed them to be tight. I also checked the CV nut which I had torqued earlier and had torque seal on it as an indication. The play seems quite large and concerning. I checked the left wheel and found the same (maybe slightly less movement). The front tires/wheels are rock solid.
I can detect some play (back and forth) in the CV axles but fairly slight. I'm at a loss to understand where the movement is coming from. The rear wheels were aligned and the control linkages were tightened and properly torqued some time ago. Before I disassemble the IRS I wanted to see if anyone else has experienced this problem.
edwardb
06-02-2023, 08:11 PM
I've done two IRS builds and haven't had play of any kind. Don't recall anyone else reporting it. I assume you have the axles in the proper sides (sorry, I know that's maybe an insulting suggestion) and they clicked in properly. Although I don't know if either of those conditions would result in play. More I suspect it wouldn't even assemble. Were your spindles/hubs new? If used, perhaps bearing wear. Are the four bolts holding the hubs in the spindles properly tightened? My understanding of the design is with good bearings and everything torqued, shouldn't be possible for play. Maybe others have some ideas.
42Bfast
06-02-2023, 10:27 PM
It’s been quite a while since I did my IRS install, and my memory isn’t what it used to be, so view this as a suggestion to investigate only.
If I’m recalling correctly I had the same issue as you are describing after i torqued the hub nuts. And like you it didn’t seem correct. I did a bit of research and found (somewhere) a higher torque spec than the initial spec I used.
Using the higher spec pulled the hubs in nicely.
Unfortunately I won’t be able to get to the shop and check my notes until next week. I will be happy to do so if you don’t get a better answer before then.
My apologies. This isn’t a very strong answer but it’s the best I can offer at the moment.
Bottom line, I don’t think your current condition is correct or acceptable but I do think it’s just a matter of getting the right torque.
Please don’t just increase the torque just based on my poor memory. You’ll need to find the actual spec callout.
Not much to go on I know but hope it helps.
michael everson
06-03-2023, 04:25 AM
what exactly do you mean by back and forth? The same way the wheel moves or are you wiggling it?
Mike
Hi Mike. No, I'm wiggling it, perpendicular to the direction the wheel turns.
Lidodrip
06-03-2023, 09:07 AM
I had some play like you described when I first assembled my IRS before I fully torqued my CV nut. I used the specs in the manual (98 lb-ft +45 deg) and everything is tight as it should be. When you torqued the CV nut, did you also do the +45 degree step?
James
Yessir. I torqued to the specs then rotated another 45 degrees. This morning I removed CV nut, then the main brake caliper (the two nuts were tight) and the e-brake caliper (bolts were torqued and sealed with locktite). I then removed the rotor and inspected the hub and spindle. All looked right and I could not get any play when moving the spindle back and forth. I put the rotor back on the hub (without the calipers) then the wheel. I tightened the lug nuts and there is now absolutely no play in the wheel.
I am thankful, I do not have to disassemble any more, but I cannot understand how removing the calipers eliminated the left/right play in the wheel! I am about to replace the calipers and am hoping everything remains tight. Anyone with any ideas on what is going on please let me know Baffles me.
Jim
Malibu46pt
06-04-2023, 07:00 AM
Can you please clarify. Was the play in and out or rotation of the wheel
It wa in and out. Perpendicular to direction of rotation. After removing the calipers and rotor then reinstalling them, all play was gone. I'm not sure what was going on to create the play (It wasn't there when I assembled the rear suspension and aligned the rear wheels) and why it went away when I removed then reinstalled the calipers and rotor. Just glad that it is gone and everything is tight.