when I grab the top of the rear tire and push it in and out it makes a clucking noise. Like the hub is loose or something...
Better description, I kneel down facing the rear tire, grab the tread and rock it in and out. It makes a clucking noise like the wheel is loose (but the wheel is tight). Anyone know what that is?

 

sounds like axle runout

 

What is that?

 

the axle moving back and fourth inside the housing.. not sure how the rear end is set up in our cars, never taken one apart but im guessing its a bearing going, but again im not sure takin a shot in the dark

 

Would it be safe to drive for a couple of months if is has....say bad hub bearings?

Is there anything else that I can look for??

 

just out of curiousity, do you get clunking in rear end of your car when braking to come to a stop??
thats what i was getting in my car last summer.
tried several different things to fix it. nothing worked so far, but just wondering if u had the same syptoms or not

 

I get a clunking maybe once a week if that when I am backing out or slowly moving forward after having the car running for a while.

 

my car has been doing this for i dont even know how long... i figured when i goes i'll just get a 12 bolt

 

looks like my problem is getting worse, today i was parked and i had the battery disconnect so i just needed to move it alittle, so i put it in neutral and cut the wheel all the way to the left, got behind the car and started to push it... You could hear the rear end clunking sound from a mile away... Im not sure whats wrong with it but it usually only does it when im turning, and doesnt sound very pleasant

 

my 84 makes a clunking when breaking hard or backing up sometimes. Its been doing it for over 6months now. Ive checked the rear and I cant really find anything. Of course I have 184.5k miles on this thing so It seems its finally turning into a rattle trap.

 

Mine does this as well. Also when I take a sharp corner without the brakes the left rear rotor contacts the caliper mouting bracket(like the bracket/rotor is keeping the axle in the car). I am thinking the c-clip is worn down or gone allowing the axle to move more than it should. I was planning on doing 3.73s anyway, so I guess now is that time. Where is the best place to get gears? Do the c-clips come in the rebuild kit?

 

Sounds like the same problem I'm having.

The clunking noise sounds like it could be U joints.

 

Did you check the fluid in the rearend? Sounds stupid, but mine was making some noise and the previous owner forgot to put in the limited slip additive when they switched fluids. It may help a prolong things for a little while anyway. It does sound like a bad bearing in the rearend though. Summit has some heavier duty bearings that your could go with if you wanted. Supposed to make things stronger