Rear end problem x 2
 

While returning home from our Clubs 25th Anniversary celebrations on the weekend, I was driving at about 35mph. Feeling great about the day (It was also Father's Day here) When suddenly without warning the cars rear end locked up, and we skidded about 40 metres, fortunately I was able to manage some semblance of control and keep it on our side of the road. With the assistance of some bystanders we were able to lift the rear with a trolley jack and move it to the side of the road. It is now back home ready for me to try and sort out what happened and why. Any suggestions on how to approach this would be most appreciated.:eek:

Cheers
Bick

Re: Rear end problem x 2
 

Re: Rear end problem x 2
 

Hopefully not the transmission as I am running a Mitchell and have probably only done 7-800 miles on it.

Re: Rear end problem x 2
 

OH MY, you didn't say anything about that. I too hope it has nothing to do with the trans.

Do you also have the Mitchell OD that you haven't said anything about?

Re: Rear end problem x 2
 

Re: Rear end problem x 2
 

I do have a new overdrive not a Mitchell that was fitted at the same time.

Re: Rear end problem x 2
 

Re: Rear end problem x 2
 

Will do.

Re: Rear end problem x 2
 

Justin its your rear end that locked up , Happens with age , Take both bungs out , flush the oil out with gas, , sounds like a tooth off & jamming in the ring , you should be able to see it , Its all those burn outs in Modified class,

Re: Rear end problem x 2
 

This happened to me on a cross country trip in 1973 or 1974. I had disassembled the '28 roadster's rear end in anticipation of a set of 3.54 gears arriving before I left on my trip. The day before I was to leave, the gears still had not arrived, so I put the standard gear set back in and left the next morning. 1400 miles later the rear end locked up on I-80 and did the same skidding routine that you experienced. After towing the car the rest of the way to my destination (only 40 miles!), I removed the rear end and disassembled it. Yup! Dry as a bone! In my hurry to get the car ready for the cross country drive and re-assembling the rear end, I had forgotten to put in new lube! Only what remaining lube that was coating the gears and bearings from the disassembly was lubing the rear end for 1400 miles before that was used up. Duh on me!!! An expensive lesson that could have ended tragically if a semi-truck had been in the lane next to me on the interstate because the car swerved into that lane in a heartbeat when the rear end locked up.
Are you sure YOU have lube in the rear end?
Marshall

Re: Rear end problem x 2
 

I had the same thing happen, and it was the e-brake carrier twisted up inside the drum. This would be one wheel locking. If both wheels are locked, well, that's bad.

Re: Rear end problem x 2
 

Plenty of oil in the diff. I drained it and couldn't find anything. Oil was nice and clean with no filings. I pulled the top off the transmission to have a look and everything looked fine there. I initially thought it may have been the park brakes, but the skid marks on the road were pretty even on both sides. I will pull the brakes off tomorrow and see if anything gives there.

Re: Rear end problem x 2
 

Justin , But did you look in with a light ? Will it turn now either forward or back ,I know of several that done as you described & each time part of a tooth off,

Re: Rear end problem x 2
 

I had the rear end lock up on a coupe I purchased. We pulled the rear end out and found a broken U joint. Thinking that was our only problem, we replaced it and reassembled it and found it still locked up. We pulled the rear end again and found that the nut on the driveshaft had broken off with the threaded end of the driveshaft. It had wedged into the ring and pinion. I had sold the car and the new owner was arriving the next day so it was a rush to get it together. Glad it happened before the new owner drove off with it and had problems.