rear-end slack?

[87swb]

when i take off in my truck from a stop sign or red light there is a jerk like hesitation. i like to think theres slack in ther ear end. the transmission was rebuilt bout 2 months ago. it doesn't do it in reverse. when you put the truck in park on a slope or hill or unlevel ground it will roll frontwards or backwards some. anyone elses truck do this or ever done it? 

[Blazin]

You have checked u joints I take it? jack it up and rotate the shaft back and forth while holing the wheels still. Sounds like it could be the spiders, & pin.

[87swb]

naw i haven't checked the u-joints. is the rear end gonna go out if it's the spiders and pin?

[Lt.Del]

the rearend IS the spider, pinion and gear teeth on the axle shafts, at least the differentials are, or hogshead. I'd check u joints firs.  If that checks out, remove drive shaft, remove differential cover and examine the gears. You should be able to see where the play is coming from.  Some play is expected.  You could see if the pinion is torqued correctly and check specs.

[VileZambonie]

If there is play in the rear end from the drive line it would be from too much clearance between the ring and pinion gear. Not from the differential gears. In neutral try rotating the driveshaft with the parking brake set and see how far you can turn it back and fourth. Grab the driveshaft at each ujoint at a 45° angle from the trunion and push up and down to check the joint for play.

[87swb]

i appreciate it i'll try all that. i thought play was normal wear and tear anyway.

[Blazin]

I have had a rear end have a bunch of slop in it and the ring and pinion clearance was within tolerance. It was the Pin mostly. Had  a groove worn into it from the spiders, and the holes in the carrier were egged out. The spiders themselves weren't to bad but heavy wear was evident.