The tires on the CUCV are fairly wide RADIALS, which look soft all the
time. Might not be the same problem, but check your air pressure on the rear
before ya start tearing things apart. If you wan to know why I say this,
read on, otherwise HIT DELETE.
A long time ago when I was young and stupid (vs. now when I'm old and
stupid), I bought a new 78 Chevy Suburban (K1500) with Posi-traction rear
end and baseline H78-15 snow tire option. After 3 weeks or so, plugged on
some Armstrong Tru Traks and aftermarket white spoke wheels. About 4 months
later, while taking a left hand turn into traffic, I heard multiple
pops/snapping sounds from the rear. Stopped to see what it was and noticed
three shiny acorn lug nuts lying in the road, just like mine. Dashing out
and scooping them up, I thought how lucky I was to find these nuts (with
studs broken off inside), just like mine. I threw them in the truck, then
proceeded to crawl around UNDER the back to see if I could find out what had
caused the popping. No joy.
Picked up my girlfriend, and while walking back to truck, noticed I was
missing 3 lug nuts (and studs) on right rear, just like the ones I found.
Hmmmm...
Dealer replaced studs, and off I go. I week later, two lane left turn
from stop light, me in left lane, off we go ,popping sounds again, followed
by siren and flashing lights from car on right. I pull over, 4 missing studs
/lugs on the right rear and a P.O.'d plainclothes cop with 4 round dents in
the side of his unmarked car and lying in the road...
Dealer now zeros in on Posi, replaces same and studs and off we go. Two
days later, left turn, POP POP POP.
Three days later after visit from zone rep, new Posi unit with a bottle of
the rare, being hoarded, Corvette Posi Sperm Whale oil additive, adios
dealer. 8 days later, POP POP POP POP from LEFT rear. Whiskey Tango
Foxtrot???, OVER.
Dealer has truck for week, everybody scratching heads,Factory reps think
the axle has a problem causing binding in rear end some how. Tear it all
down, find nothing. After 2 weeks, new complete Posi rear axle assembly from
factory, out the door I go.
2 days later,POP POP, back on right side????
A guy from work who is heavy in Vette's, suggests I go to this old
mechanic who is Mr. Posi when it comes to Chevy's and Vette's in particular.
I go see him, tell him my tale of woe, he throws the truck on the lift,
spins the rears, steps back and crosses his arms, puffs his pipe a couple of
times, then pulls out his tire gauge and checks the right tire, dead on 30
psi. Checks the left, 10 psi. Tru Traks are big tires and they were taken
off when rear end was replaced. And they look soft all the time. Difference
in diameter was enough to LOCK when I really jumped on it starting out and
turning.
Suggests I shouldn't go back to the dealer for new studs and he can
do it right now, so he does. Takes the left wheel off, finds a slow leak
in a weld on the NEW white spoker. He says I shouldn't tell the dealer,
since they will get testy about all the time and money spent on something
that was caused by a non factory part. Replace rim, no more problem. Dealer
thinks he's a super star because they gave me such good service. Factory
engineers probably screwed around with returned axle assy. for a while
before giving up. And ever since, I look for a Rabbi (slang for specialist)
who specializes in whatever vehicle I am currently destroying. Believe it,
or not....
So endith the first lesson.
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Wed Apr 04 2001 - 08:10:46 PDT