So the other day I pulleed out onto the highway and accelerated, much to my dismay it sounded like someone had tied a bunch of tin cans onto the back of my 81 vette, so I pulled over quickly and put the car in nuetral as I stopped the noise continued .  So I had the car towed back to my garage.  This morning I started to investigate what my probolem might be, I started the car and put it in drive and heard a very loud clunk similar to hiting metal with a sledge hammer.  Then I tried reverse with the same results, never heard a noise as loud as this.  The only rear end experience I have is changing them out on a 79 Fiat Spyder.  I have not jacked it up yet, just came in a read my manual on the Rear end.  Suggestions are welcome

 Thanks, Dan

Hi, Need more information. Could be half shaft U joints. Could be ring and pinion. Also main drive shaft U joints. Any noise at all before the initial failure? No scrapping or clunking prior to stop or acceleration. Jack it up. Eyes on will give some indication of failure.

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The clunking could be the snubber on the front of the differential.  Is it still there and have rubber on it?

I really have not had any issues with the rear end since I had it magna-fluxed and rebuilt four years ago.  No strange noises, it performed nicely.  It was definately a lot more quiet than before I had it rebuilt, but it did seem as if the backlash was not set as well as it should have been.

F-4 gary You may be describing the piece of metal and rubber I picked up off the middle of the road, it was in two pieces, the metal was bent up but at one time it did have a rubber bumper on it.  Where is it actually suppose to be located.  I will check this out tomorrow.   When I Jack the car up should I first take off the tires to reduce the weight on the rear end?

If the front diff mount/pinion snubber is completely gone, the front of the diff can twist up/down, and usually the driveshaft will beat on the bottom of the body. It can also allow the halfshafts to run out of whack, making noise. From your description, what you picked up was the front diff mount/snubber. 

Here's a pic of the older style set-up, followed by a diagram of what your car should have. hth 🤠

Joel Adams
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Well the winner was Manchestershark, my passenger side half shaft u-joint broke on the inner side of the wheel and decimated the shock absorber as well as taking out part of the trailing arm.  So now I need to start chasing some parts down.

Thanks for everyones suggestions.  Hard to believe the damage it did in approximately 100 feet and the noises it made.

Thanks again, Dan

Yikes! Better call Bairs. They have every piece you may need to repair/replace . Thanks for the update. They also are a huge supporter of this venue and Registry. 

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Yikes!  Guess it was obvious once you got under there.  Just keep telling yourself, "it's a hobby!".

Well, I hope the High Test burns a little leaner on the next take off! 

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Not knowing where Bairs was I had concerns about shipping costs so I goggled them and they are only a 2 hour drive from my house in Cleveland Oh.  So I figure that I will drive my trailing arms and half shafts to them and have it all reconditioned cause I hate doing things twice. 😅

DRose,

Would be a good time in looking into why that U-joint failed, because you have three more back there that can give up the ghost as well (and take out whatever they can reach with it). I replaced all 4, just because the PO had already bought them and never got to it before I bought the project. Spicer brand U-joints was what they were, IIRC. 

Steve

Interested in what you are going to have done with the trailing arms and half shafts over there. I knew they were in PA, but didn't know they did re-builds. That makes them only 3 hours away from me.

I agree and I am going to replace all four u-joints and have them install the locks on the u-joint bolts.  It appears I lost a bolt on one of the U-joints and then it came apart and just tore apart my shock on that side, some fiberglass in the storage pocket and took some metal off the trailing arm. Actually a lot of damage.

If you have not already you should go to there webb site and see what they offer.  I am going to have them recondition my trailing arms. They give you a whole list of what they do and you should read it, its impressive.  You have to figure they have all the parts and knowledge to rebuild the entire car and in my case the best prices for what I need done.  They also give you a number to call and you can discuss your problem with a knowledable person who knows all about Corvettes, extremely helpful, you couldn't ask for more.

I am also going to have them look at my half shafts and I will replace all four u-joints, in addition I will actually have a functioning parking brake because of rebuilding my trailing arms.

No shipping because they are so close and look at all the fun I am going to have.  LOL

Just as a F.Y.I. to all who may be interested, Bairs is the place to go for Expert rebuilding of any mechanical problem. They are CORVETTE PEOPLE.  They only work on Corvettes. Take a ride to their facility and lay eyes on the business. An exceptional customer relations mentality. Last time I was there, it was "Nothing but Corvettes". 

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