When I first pull off after being parked for a while I get a feeling of slack or play in the rear wheels. No noises just an odd feeling. I've pulled the wheels to check everything and can't find anything loose or with play in it. It is obvious enough that others riding with me have noticed it. Also notice that it doesn't happen again until it has been parked for a while. Any suggestions?

Thanks

 

How many miles are on your truck?

I suspect the "slack" is in your transmission.

My first car that I owned was a worn out 56 Chevrolet Convertible. The rear pinion gears had so much wear that I could turn one of the rear wheels a half turn with the other on the ground and transmission in gear.

 

144k miles.

 

It might be u-joints.

 

I'm a little less inclined to think it is the tranny but I will definitely check the UJ's. I noticed today that the slack only appears at initial start up and only when I am turning to the right (such as when pulling out of a parking space). It feels like when the right rear wheel pulls the left has a split second hesitation then grabs hwnce the feeling of slack. I can't find anything at all that is loose.

I will check the UJ's and see if something is loose there. Thanks.

 

If you have L/S try pouring a 4oz bottle of friction stabilizer in the rearend. You can purchase it at a Ford dealer for arond $5.00 a bottle it should help. Another thought is that my 97 did somewhat the same thing you are discribing. I changed the shocks and the problem went away. Apparently a condition called axle wrap on these trucks can exist. When starting to pull away the axle/rearend twists downward. Some have solved the condition by installing helper springs, I tried shocks first as I needed them anyway and it seemed solve the problem. Of course now that I said it solved the problem it will comeback....

 

I have the LS and have already installed new shocks but what you're describing sounds logical. I will try the friction stabilizer to see if that helps. Im also wondering if going with the less expensive Monroe shocks could be part of the problem. I've used these same shocks for years with no problems but with the truck getting older I'm wondering if maybe they are not strong enough. I've been thinking that this was probably somehow related to the differential but just couldnt find anything concrete. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

+1 on the u-joints. Have you ever replaced them before?

 

I installed inexpensive Monroes as well so maybe its not that. I do think the rear axle additive could be the ticket though. Those LS clutchs tend to stick at times especially when turning and the stabilizer is supposedly the fix for that. May be universals but in most cases they make some noise and you get a vibration as well at highway speeds. Good luck.