2002 SL1 Wobble Half Shaft

[uccoskun]

Dear All:

After changing my clutch and quill seal, I end up getting a wobble at high speeds (higher than 30mph).

I think either my differential is the problem or the driver side half shaft is not installed right. I shot a video ("https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmZiQdQJl9M&feature=youtu.be"). In this video, I locked my driver side rotor with a screw driver and put the car in the 3rd gear. The passenger side tire rotates freely and the driver side half shaft clearly wobbles. If i did the same test for the other side there is no wobble in the passenger side half shaft link.

I know the differential bearings are good (I have checked during quil seal installation). I cannot imagine how a bearing cannot be in its housing if the housing closed fine. I think the half shaft might not pushed in all the way (http://www.saturnfans.com/photos/sho...=57442&cat=500) but the half shaft looks all right (no visible misalignment)

May I hear your ideas about the problem?

Thank you in advance.

[OldNuc]

You probably have a bad axle unless the inner CV joint will have any side to side deflection when mounted into the transmission.

If you can pull the inner CV out of the transmission easily by hand then it is not fully seated and you will see clean metal between the seal and the back of the CV.

[bumpdraft]

Ancillary side-story:
When I re-built my MP3, the main carrier bearings at the differential were loose.
When I backed out of the driveway and then shifted into first gear, there was a nice “clunk”.
After the re-build, and still to this day, there is no clunk.
...except now, the driver’s side axle is clicking...possible because it has 220,000-miles on it.
I have spares and replacement is on my list. If it turns out that something was not installed correctly, then I will be sure to eat crow and let you know.

This is an old picture showing radial play. Pushing with the file moved the inner CV joint.
As the 2008 caption reads, “Where the big file is touching, I can push with the file and there is about 1/16th of an inch up/down movement.”

This picture was taken before I had ever removed any axle or worked on the MP3.

—End side story. Back to OP’s question.—

[OldNuc]

Worn bearings will make a clunk when changing direction but the inner CV rollers run on needle bearings and if the axle was whacked repeatedly on the end of the outer CV stub to seat it into the trans then those needle bearings are highly suspect. The lock ring spreads over time and makes install-removal less than a pleasant task. It is not a solid ring either. They can be worked back into shape by working around them with a pair of smooth jaw channel locks. Takes about 4 complete trips around the ring to get it back into shape.

The carrier bearings are genuine ball bearings and excessive clearance is baked into the cake.