locked half shaft

[Mark H.]

A little help please : ('65 SB with posi)

o Is it normal, when the rear of the car is jacked up, to be able to turn only 1 half shaft and not the other ? Something to do with the posi- rear end ? If so, is it always the left side that locks up ?
o Anything wrong with having had the car jacked up in the air for the last 8 months during the rebuild (wheels off) ?
o Any thoughts on why the car would (appear to at least) be sitting lower in the rear than months ago ? I did nothing to anything on the suspension except for new Paragon GM shocks (made in Mexico... They feel like mush.)

I can't even b u d g e that wheel to turn. After my motor rebuild , my first time out of the garage (about 10 feet) it felt like the car was trying to twist into a knot due, I guess, to that left rear being frozen.

Thanks, Mark

[John H.]

Re: locked half shaft

It's quite common (especially with replacement rear shocks) to have interference between half-shaft U-joints and their trunnions with the rear suspension in full rebound; if you jack the trailing arms up to normal ride height you can avoid this. If you have this issue with the car on wheels at normal ride height, you have other issues, possibly in the parking brake.

[Mark H.]

Re: locked half shaft

You called it John. I got more into it yesterday and found that the parking break on the left had emploded.

Thanks, Mark