rear end "pop" noise

[stockgp]

82 brougham with a 307.

if i drive over any kind of uneven surface (pull into a parking lot, driveway, etc.), my rear end makes a quite loud popping noise.

wasn't sure what it was until i changed wheels last night.

if i grab hold of the wheels, i caan move them in and out. they don't wobble up and down or left and right like i would think for a wheel bearing.

rear end is a posi unit out of something. it was in the car when i got it

any ideas?

 

[jrm81bu]

The wheels should move in and out up to maybe a 1/4 of an inch at the most. Th e poping noise could be the posi. If its the gov-lok rear I think they could be prone to making noise when they are engaging and disengaging.(some one else chime in on that) Either way you should find out soon. If you break the spider gears inside there won't be anything holding your axles in anymore.

 

[RollinSingle]

If the rear end is an open or some form of posi there could be a problem with the spider gears. I would remove the differential cover and inspect for debris, chunks, anything that looks broken, burned fluid. If it is a posi or limited slip unit and how its set up can cause that. When turning a corner the wheels turn at different speeds, a posi will try to make both wheels turn at the same speed causing one tire to bark/hop/skip. A gov-lok will make a clunk noise when it engages, but in just turning a corner without wheel slip the differential will remain an open carrier.

 

[stockgp]

so how can i tell if it is a gov-lok rear end?

 

[pontiacgp]

so how can i tell if it is a gov-lok rear end?

take the cover off to take a look at it...