Clarify the rear axle for me

[PosiVTS]

Having searched the internet on this for a while, its still not to clear in my head if the rear beam failure is what I have. I thought with rear bush/bearing failure the wheel camber should look off and the wheels have side-to-side movement. Mine look normal and are solid movement wise.

Basically the back end is very bangy and crashy.. although the front isnt much better. Its lowered 50mm on the Apex shock/spring kit and taken a good 30-40k beating. I suspect the suspension needs replaced anyway but it was the rear that worries me.

When putting any weight down on the back should the shock absorbers not compress and take most of the movement downwards? It seems to me that instead, my rear axle rotates backwards and down(like a rocking motion), meaning the shocks don't take any of the impacts which is why I think its so harsh on the road.

Hope my explaination above makes some sense to somebody out there.

[blackie_2k5]

get pics of your wheels from the back of the car

and diagonally from the rear bumper...we'll se if it "look" fucked


if its down 50mm on after market susp its bound to be crashy though mate

[PosiVTS]

Will get pics tomorrow in better light and weather.

When driving along a road with bumps that shift the weight of the car from front to back I find it see-saws, when you think the lowered suspension would firm it up, it just about buffs the front and back arches accordingly as it rocks back and forth. Not normal surely?

Should I get any turning/rotation on the rear beam when putting weight down on the back end anyway?

[blackie_2k5]

i sounds like your axle..my old one wore the bearing at the bottom...so looking at it, it was mint and looked fine

but pulling the top of the wheel towards you really hard showed loads of play to the lower part of the bearing..which explained why it felt all over the road on bumpy ground

and when it was really windy it would feel like the car was trying to jump lanes

.jack the rear wheels off the floor and put your hands at "1 and 7" and try twisting the wheel back and forth

[PosiVTS]

Finally.. a gap in the weather so took the car down to the retail park for nice level tarmac.

Not sure if there should be slight camber being down -50mm, but I'll let all you experienced members give me your opinion.. I took plenty pics anyway.

http://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q596/PosiVTS/DSC01548.jpg
http://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q596/PosiVTS/DSC01549.jpg
http://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q596/PosiVTS/DSC01552.jpg

http://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q596/PosiVTS/DSC01550.jpg
http://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q596/PosiVTS/DSC01553.jpg
http://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q596/PosiVTS/DSC01556.jpg

http://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q596/PosiVTS/DSC01554.jpg

http://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q596/PosiVTS/DSC01551.jpg
http://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q596/PosiVTS/DSC01557.jpg
http://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q596/PosiVTS/DSC01559.jpg

http://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q596/PosiVTS/DSC01561.jpg
http://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q596/PosiVTS/DSC01562.jpg

[Baz]

rear left looks to have huge camber IMO

[Prickle]

http://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q596/PosiVTS/DSC01559.jpg

Whats the gap like from the inner side of the tyre to the arch?

[PosiVTS]

The gap from the inside tyre wall to the back of the inner wheel arch? Or inside tyre wall to the VT kit arch?