Well I came into the pits and someone said my back tire looked off. I got all the axels and the rear end out and it all looks good. I did strip out a bolt on a rear caliper. When I removed my lugs they felt a little loose. When I turned over the rear by hand it felt smooth with no resistance. Originally I thought I bent an axel but now I think it might have been the caliper bouncing. What should I be measuring or look for besides alignment? Nothing looks out of place....

 

I think somebody just playing a little reverse mindind psychology warfare
on you

 

Clean up the axle flange real good where the wheel bolts on, and use a dial indicator on the flange just outside of the wheel lugs. I think axle runout should be less than .008"-.0010", and end play I'm not sure about. Works best if you turn the wheel on the opposite side while someone watches the indicator to check runout.

I'd bet it's bent, for it to strip out a caliper bolt you must have hit hard enough to bend the axel and brake rotor enough to force out the caliper bolt.

 

I got it all apart and it looks fine. The diff turns over easily by hand and no visible damage. I took the axle and rolled it across a table and no humping so it seems straight. But I see how the dial indicator would work. I don't own a dial indicator. Could I eyeball this thing pitting a really nice metal ruler with millimeters? Or is it time to buy one, if so what would you suggest?

 

If it looks straight on a table and you don't notice anything when you drive it then it's good enough. Checking it on the car is the best way though, and it's the easiest since you only need to take the wheel and brake rotor off. The dial indicator is a nice little tool to have, you can get one cheap at harbor freight, or find a nice one somewhere if you want to.

regular
1" Travel Machinist's Dial Indicator
Multipositional Magnetic Base with Fine Adjustment

snake style
http://www.harborfreight.com/clampin...tor-93051.html