# Play in rear axle normal? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** mustang, ford\ **Created:** [February 10, 2024, 8:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/play-in-rear-axle-normal/194352 "2024-02-10T20:12:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![J162\_165342](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/j162_165342/32/40582_2.png) [@J162\_165342](https://community.cartalk.com/u/J162_165342)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 8:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/play-in-rear-axle-normal/194352/1 "2024-02-10T20:12:10Z")
I took my 2013 mustang gt into a shop to have the suspension looked at and diagnosed (squeak when going over bumps) they told me it was the shocks. They also told me while they were diagnosing the car, they tried pushing the rear wheels with the car in the air and they showed me there was a very small amount of lateral play when pushing on the wheel maybe 1/8 of an inch and I could hear a metallic clicking noise when they pressed on the wheel like it was moving a little. They said the wheel bearings are OK and all the lug nuts are tight. They then told me there is some play in the axle and that I may need axle shafts soon but I can keep driving it for now. Is it normal to have some side to side play (like 1/8 or 1/4 of an inch in the rear axle when pushing on the wheels or is any amount of play bad? Just trying to figure out if they’re trying to upsell me. ---
**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 8:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/play-in-rear-axle-normal/194352/2 "2024-02-10T20:43:12Z")
Most rear axles gave that much play. It’s the result of "C-lock design axle shafts. ---
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 9:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/play-in-rear-axle-normal/194352/3 "2024-02-10T21:53:34Z")
A live axle with semi-floating shafts (that’s what we call your set-up) will always have a slight amount of play. I’m sure there’s a spec somewhere for what the max allowed is and without feeling it myself it’s hard to tell for sure, but I wouldn’t be alarmed just yet. I assume this is a stock rear end set? ---
**Author:** ![J162\_165342](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/j162_165342/32/40582_2.png) [@J162\_165342](https://community.cartalk.com/u/J162_165342)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 10:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/play-in-rear-axle-normal/194352/4 "2024-02-10T22:00:41Z")
Yes stock rear end, changed the fluid, gasket and breather vent at 90k, now has 100k. Besides that it’s never been touched. Would it be safe to say if i’m not feeling vibration when driving or hearing any weird noises coming from the rear end that everything is ok? ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 10:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/play-in-rear-axle-normal/194352/5 "2024-02-10T22:20:12Z")
While not directly related to your car, you may find this informative > [@Checking Ford 9 inch differential play](https://community.cartalk.com/t/checking-ford-9-inch-differential-play/189647): > > Working on my Ford truck’s rear brakes the other day, got to wondering if there’s an easy way to measure the differential play caused by the ring gear not perfectly engaging with the pinion. It seems like you could assess this readily by putting transmission in neutral, jacking one rear wheel but leaving other on the ground, and measuring the distance you could turn the jacked-up rear wheel. Would that work, or are there complications? ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 10:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/play-in-rear-axle-normal/194352/6 "2024-02-10T22:23:11Z")
When you start hearing the rotors scrape on the caliper brackets you’ll need to open it up. Either the diff pin or the axle shafts will need replacing. About 0.040 inches of play is normal. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 10:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/play-in-rear-axle-normal/194352/7 "2024-02-10T22:30:45Z")
> [@J162\_165342](#): > > 1/8 or 1/4 of an inch in the rear axle when pushing on the wheels > [@Mustangman](#): > > About 0.040 inches of play is normal. My Ford’s 9 incher axial play seems closer to 0.04 inch than 1/4 inch. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 11:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/play-in-rear-axle-normal/194352/8 "2024-02-10T23:56:14Z")
A 9 inch rear is significantly different in design to the OPs 8.8 inch axle even if the play is similar. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2024, 1:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/play-in-rear-axle-normal/194352/9 "2024-02-11T01:11:37Z")
> [@J162\_165342](#): > > Just trying to figure out if they’re trying to upsell me. I think they discovered something they are not familiar with. There needs to be some play to allow for thermal expansion. Check the play again, 10 minutes after a highway trip driving 75 mph for 4 hours. ---
**Author:** ![J162\_165342](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/j162_165342/32/40582_2.png) [@J162\_165342](https://community.cartalk.com/u/J162_165342)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2024, 3:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/play-in-rear-axle-normal/194352/10 "2024-02-11T03:09:32Z")
You mean after driving highway speeds for extended amounts of time there will be a lot less play? ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2024, 3:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/play-in-rear-axle-normal/194352/11 "2024-02-11T03:12:26Z")
Yes, play is reduced when hot. You don’t have to test for this after a drive unless you want to prove it to yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2024, 3:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/play-in-rear-axle-normal/194352/12 "2024-02-11T03:17:45Z")
If the axle movement was excessive, the axle seal would be leaking. Tester ---
**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2024, 7:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/play-in-rear-axle-normal/194352/13 "2024-02-12T07:10:39Z")
I understood that the OP’s play was the movement inward and outward, Tester. I searched and found no worthwhile videos on the situation. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2024, 10:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/play-in-rear-axle-normal/194352/14 "2024-02-12T10:04:54Z")
Don’t worry about the axle movement in and out, with a c clip axle set up as the OP’s, if the axle is moving to much in and out, it is broke and you will be having other more pressing issues… lol Remove the rotor and you will normally have much more in/out movement…