The clicking noise may be the u-joints even though they are new. It's very common. Either the circlips are too thin or the flanges have become slightly spread open over years of use and the u-joint moves slightly back and forth as the axle turns causing that distinctive clicking.
The solution is to put a shim under the circlip. You can cut one out an old soda can. As far as the axle being out of concentric, how are you seeing the rear plate jumping around? Are you running the wheels with the car on jacks? I've never actually tried it but I would think that would be normal due to the two u-joint flanges going through various combinations of angles while travelling through 360 degrees. Some of the angles are less "natural" than others and I would think that would tend to push the wheel against the suspension at varying rates giving that concentric look. Of course when on the road, the weight of the car would cancel all this out. I'm hardly an automotive expert so this is just a guess. Take it for what it's worth. But try shimming the u-joints and see if it gets rid of the clicking. You should be able to put the shim in without removing the axle from the car. Best! Greg Rowe > Date: Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:08:07 -0700> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: spitfires@autox.team.net> Subject: [Spits] rear end troubles> > Hello one and all......> > Since replacing the rear wheel bearings, we noticed a clicking sound in the rear....> > So, we jacked spitty up and removed rear tires......> > Trying to figure out what the noise could be, even thought new U-joints were used...> > What took us by surprise is the axles seem to be out of round somewhere because the whole wheel assembly, backing plate and all are kinda of wobbling around...> > You can see the axles are not turning perfectly around, but out of concentric some.....> > Can't figure this out, as axles are strait, not bent and new u joints pressed in and keepers seated....> > Never seen anything like this..... oh, the half shafts out of the rear end appear to be turning perfect circles...> so it seems it must be in the u-joints somewhere....> > Question, Have any of you all seen this before.... any ideas?> > Don & Henry _________________________________________________________________ The other season of giving begins 6/24/08. Check out the im Talkathon. http://www.imtalkathon.com?source=TXT_EML_WLH_SeasonOfGiving _______________________________________________ Support Team.Net http://www.team.net/donate.html Spitfires@autox.team.net http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/spitfires http://www.team.net/archive