ChasRX

I hear an odd rumbling noise coming from the rear end, not during coasting or hard acceleration, but when I "feather" the throttle, during any/all speeds (20 to 75mph), and the drive-linkage "hooks-up". I'm thinking there's some "slop" in the pumpkin bearings / linkage that could be causing this. My question is, has anyone else ever experienced such?

Recent work history:
I recently swapped my old worn out stock '81 GS rear axle with an '83 GSL rear axle (w/ disc brakes and LSD) in April. Since then, I've had the local Mazda dealer garage do some work for me; including new pilot bearing and throwout bear, (yes, both were shot!) a new clutch, and new rear axle bearings. I've put about 150 miles on it, since.

Also, I have my rear stock sway bar removed, atm. (It's still on the old rear axle assy and needs to be cleaned up and painted.) Could that perhaps cause such an issue or contribute toward overstressing the drive linkage?

Thanks!

breesej

check your driveshaft

trochoid

iTrader: (6)

Sway bar has not effect. Drop the drive shaft from the diff, do not pull it out of the tranny, unless you want to refill the fluid, and check the u-joints. They shoud be neither too stiff or too free/loose. If they are good, look at the 3rd member.

ChasRX

Thanks fellas. I have a machine shop that has balanced ,it in previous years, and has replaced the u-joints for me. I'll keep my fingers crossed for that to be the solution. The car isn't my daily driver, and may very well have fubared U-Joints from being parked.
It's been at least 8 or 10 years since the U-Joints have been replaced, anyway.

ChasRX

FYI, It put a new Mazdatrix (aftermarket) driveshaft in, today. It rides smooth as glass, now. It's great! Now, maybe it'll be good for another 10 years or so.

notveryhappyjack

iTrader: (4)

check your handbrake cables, I did just about the same swap (gs to gsl) and my new handbrake cables were rubbing on my wheel on the passenger side making a terrible noise

ChasRX

If you bought them from VB, they've probably sent you both LH cables; compare the lengths. (Ask me how I know.) I think VB's supplier mislabeled some cables. The LH cable should be longer than the RH. I originally ordered through VB, and although the cables were in two boxes with different part numbers; they were appeared identical in length.

I went down to my trusty local Mazda dealer and had them order the correct one for me. He told me there were six (6) more available in the warehouse (genuine Mazda part). Now, there are less than six.

notveryhappyjack

iTrader: (4)

hehe yep, they were both the same length, I had my local mazda dealer check out the wheel barrings after I put a LSD in and they said everyhting was cool with my swap, fawk now my new cable has been chewed through from rubbing on my wheel and is basically worthless. whatever that prolly would have saved my car from rolling down the hill into a parked car and smashing up my perfectly straight body and causeing 800 in damage, double fawk I wish I wouldn't have posted here, cause now I'm pissed taht it was actually a faulty cable...enough emo story now my car is a drift car and the body is "expendable"

ChasRX

ack...sorry to hear that.
I realized mine was rubbing before I backed out of my driveway; I heard something "ticking" and it was the cable flapping on the left rear tire. Luckily, I didn't drive it further than 10 or 15 feet. I used a zip-tie to keep it routed away from that mess. We should probably call BD and let them know that their supplier has a mislabel. (I trashed the carton, already, though. Anyone need a an e-brake cable?)

notveryhappyjack

iTrader: (4)

did useing a zip tie work? Were you still able to pull the handbreak and it would hold the car? **** thats an easy fix if it works well enough

ChasRX

The zip tie was only a temporary thing to keep the cable from rubbing the RH tire. Although I routed the cable through factory-designated route, I never bothered to actually connect the RH cable to the lever. (The correct RH cable is installed, now. It fits / works as it is supposed to.)

At the time, the LH cable was correct and the single cable held the car from rolling. I drove it to work a few times as such, but it remained without a RH e-brake cable connection for a short period. Keep in mind that this isn't a daily driver; and my driveway is flat, so I didn't really need an e-brake. I always put it in gear when I park it and I only drove it for a short period of time to get a feel for the condition of the rear axle / diffferential that I'd just recently swapped.

A fat zip-tie will work wonders as a temporary restraint, though!

notveryhappyjack

iTrader: (4)

chas do you know if VB or BD or whatever they wanna be called has the correct handbreak cables now?

ChasRX

To get the correct part, and when in doubt, call Mazdatrix; or your own local Mazda dealer for parts.

I'm assuming that BD has received a batch of mislabeled RH Emergency brake cables, and without a formal customer complaint, they'll not realize the situation. I haven't contacted them about it.