yoke play in 3.91 rearend

[71' 500]

I took the car out a couple nights ago and noticed a loud metallic banging sound in between shifts and occasional other situations. So I assume its u-joints currently replacing them. Being curious I grabbed ahold of my
yoke out of the rear end and went to spin it and found about an 1/8 of a revolution of play. Is this normal or do I have far more issues than I'm aware of ? This is an 8-3/4 factory 3.91 rear end. Any input is more than welcome. Oh by the way this is a 71' Dodge Charger 500 factory 4speed 383 hi po that's had a little work!

 

[Cranky]

Backlash, clearance in the axle splines etc will stack up. 1/8" movement sounds about right to me.....but you shouldn't be hearing things banging between shifts. Need to start checking things out.

 

[71' 500]

Any ideas as to what this banging might be also this is not 1/8th inch of free spin I can turn the yoke 1/8 of a full turn before the wheels will turn

 

[Cranky]

Sorry, I mis-read that...yeah, 1/8 turn is a lot! I'd pull it apart and start looking at everything. Axle splines, cross shaft that the spiders rotate on, back lash....everything.

 

[71' 500]

i really dont want to have to yank the whole rearend apart if its normal.

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thanks man yeah i just hope its not to bad. i have at times rode it hard.

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ive never really never had my hands in a differential! How do you adjust backlash on the 8- 3/4

 

[Cranky]

If your yoke is turning 1/8 of a turn before the wheels do anything, then it's too much. The backlash is adjusted by screw in side bearing (differential bearings) adjusters. Easy to see them once the 3rd member is pulled but I doubt the back lash has gone out that bad. Do you know what SureGrip is in there? There's two kinds...a cone type clutch and one that uses clutch plates. On the cone unit you have one cross shaft that goes through the carrier case and if that shaft is bad, chances are the carrier has wear too and that can give you extra movement and clunking. If the SG is original to the 71, then it's a cone type SG.

 

[Meep-Meep]

A little looseness is normal but if you are hearing a bang like you just hit the drive shaft with a wrench then you might have an extremely worn third member. A little extra backlash plus slop in the spiders and pin will add up quick. I'd pull it for an inspection.

 

[Supershafts]

When you turn the end yoke and move it 1/8 before you see the tire turn that can be normal if you know what you have in the housing, what ratio, what carrier... as you turn the end yoke it contacts the ring, that turns the carrier and then the slack in cross bar, the wear in the spiders on the pin is taken up, then the room between the side gear and axle and then you see the tire turn.

Can't go by the turning the end yoke unless EVERYTHING is new.

Look at everything since you never said where the sound comes from under these shifts it could be anything from mounts to a joint or something at the suspension.
.

 

[71' 500]

thanks for all the great ideas guys yes the rearend is original to the car the rearend ratio is 3.91 checked it multiple times the other night the other thing i noticed was as i was spinning tires there is a far greater resistance in the drivers side versus the passenger side. I can only speculate but should the other tire not turn the other direction when the other is spun and car is level stupid question i know

 

[69roadr]

if its a sure-grip diff. both wheels would turn the same direction. (from what i've heard)