[brettm]

After rebuilding the front axle - I'm noticing my rear end feel a little sloppy and the occasional noise that sounds like a vibration of thin metal - like I would imagine a loose exhaust to sound.

Poke under the truck and exhaust looks tight, the a-frame wishbone thingie "looks" fairly solid, didn't feel any play in it - but there is some checking/ageing in the rubber at the fulcrum joint - but nothing alarming. The bottom link bushings look acceptable - nothing visually looks deteriorated and feels solid.

Biggest culprit appears to be the rear sway links are super sloppy, the ball joint looks fine - but the bushing material in that link arm offers a lot of play/wiggle. Would that make for a sloppy feel and/or a weird vibration sound once in a while? Anything else I should look at while I'm at it?

 

[brettm]

Other thing I see that I have no idea what it is or if it might be noisy is this thing. Just a tub mount? It’s filthy and looks rough but no idea if it’s meant to move

 

[carlosz]

That is a seat belt anchor.

 

[Z.G]

Have someone get in the truck and put it in 1st, then reverse, then 1st, etc while you're observing the A frame joint from the side of the vehicle at ground level. Should be easier to identify like that

 

[Roverchef]

Just take a pry bar and wedge it under the a-arm ball joint...
If there's any play up/down it needs to come out of there unless you have one of those fancy adjustable ones and then you can dial it in to snug up the play some.
Sway bar bushings are loud when they clank around.
U-joints?

 

[brettm]

Just take a pry bar and wedge it under the a-arm ball joint...
If there's any play up/down it needs to come out of there unless you have one of those fancy adjustable ones and then you can dial it in to snug up the play some.
Sway bar bushings are loud when they clank around.
U-joints?

shaft/u joints still look really good - redid those a few years ago and grease every oil change. not adjustable - it's probably original. will try the pry bar trick.

 

[brettm]

A frame joint seems rock-solid - didn't budge at all up/down or left/right when cranked on with a long crowbar. I did this test with the truck on the ground... assuming I don't need to get it jacked onto the frame with the rear axle hanging?

Gonna start with new sway bar links and bushings and see if that makes things better.

 

[Z.G]

Have someone get in the truck and put it in 1st, then reverse, then 1st, etc while you're observing the A frame joint from the side of the vehicle at ground level. Should be easier to identify like that

Do this ^ and you should be able to identify most issues

 

[brettm]

Do this ^ and you should be able to identify most issues

will do.