Home page
SPONSOR AD

Support our Vendors!  |  Advertise Here

Topic: 1975 Corvette 4 Speed rear wheels are locked up?

in Forum: C3 Driveline Components


Already a Member?
Login
Not yet a Member?
Register for Free!

1975 Corvette 4 Speed rear wheels are locked up? (1/17)
 9/22/19 2:15pm
Vetteman75Lifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Send Private Message

Wetumpka, AL - USA

Vette(s):
1975 Stingray Coupe 2014 Stingray Convertible


Joined: 1/9/2014
Posts: 27

C-3 1975 Corvette 4 Speed rear wheels are locked up

Hey everyone was driving my 75 yesterday about mile into it the rear wheels just locked up. I was unable to even push the car to the side of the road. I was able to get it back home with the help of my dollies lifting up the rear wheels. I have been trying to figure out what is wrong. I took the caliber off and tried to turn it (nothing). Took the brake pads out from the other side still (nothing). There was nothing out of the ordinary only that it came to an immediate stop. I looked at the emergency brakes it appears to have lots of shoe left doesn't appear to be seized. The cable under there looks pretty bad and there is no emergency brake when you pull it up inside.  The Transmission was just rebuilt in it as well. I got into the car cranked it up and put it in gear hoping with no weight I would get something to move. Nothing it just bogs down and kills the motor. Come on now I need some help to put me on the right track to get er fixed. Thanks Dean


|UPDATED|9/22/2019 11:15:51 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
Our Sponsors help support C3VR
Re: 1975 Corvette 4 Speed rear wheels are locked up? (2/17)
 9/22/19 2:42pm
73shark
Limited Member
Send Private Message

Overland Park, KS - USA

Vette(s):
1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.


Joined: 7/9/2003
Posts: 864

The only thing I can think of would be that somehow the transmission got into two gears at the same time or more likely a tooth broke off in the differential and is blocked when it tried to mesh.

FWIW, the parking brake would not bring you to a complete, instant stop. I tried one time to see at the speed of about 30 miles per hour and it took about a hundred yards to come to a complete stop using only the parking brake.



|UPDATED|9/22/2019 11:42:46 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


______________

1973 L-82 4 spd

Re: 1975 Corvette 4 Speed rear wheels are locked up? (3/17)
 9/22/19 2:47pm
Vetteman75Lifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Send Private Message

Wetumpka, AL - USA

Vette(s):
1975 Stingray Coupe 2014 Stingray Convertible


Joined: 1/9/2014
Posts: 27

That is what I am trying to do is see if the tranny is in fact in neutral.  Haven't had much luck with it.  I was going to take a look at the rear end.  I heard they have C Clamp in there that sometimes will fall off and get stuck in the gears.  Makes you mad when it was running so good too....Thanks for your input!

 

 

Re: 1975 Corvette 4 Speed rear wheels are locked up? (4/17)
 9/22/19 3:11pm
73shark
Limited Member
Send Private Message

Overland Park, KS - USA

Vette(s):
1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.


Joined: 7/9/2003
Posts: 864

You could disconnect the drive shaft to determine which end is locked up.



______________

1973 L-82 4 spd

Re: 1975 Corvette 4 Speed rear wheels are locked up? (5/17)
 9/22/19 5:40pm
Vetteman75Lifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Send Private Message

Wetumpka, AL - USA

Vette(s):
1975 Stingray Coupe 2014 Stingray Convertible


Joined: 1/9/2014
Posts: 27

I noticed that when we try to put the transmission in Reverse the rod/arm is not moving at all.  So I disconnected the the drive shaft and thought well at least I can turn the wheels - WRONG.  They are frozen.  I then tried starting it with out the drive shaft hooked up and the same ole thing it will bog down and die.  So I believe the transmission was caught in Reverse and another gear and then that caused the rear end to break.  So I will be out of a lot of money trying to find both of these.  I will just get some used ones.  Thanks again for your help!

 

Re: 1975 Corvette 4 Speed rear wheels are locked up? (6/17)
 9/22/19 6:13pm
73shark
Limited Member
Send Private Message

Overland Park, KS - USA

Vette(s):
1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.


Joined: 7/9/2003
Posts: 864

So with the drive shaft disconnected the rear wheels would still not turn?



______________

1973 L-82 4 spd

Re: 1975 Corvette 4 Speed rear wheels are locked up? (7/17)
 9/22/19 6:56pm
Vetteman75Lifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Send Private Message

Wetumpka, AL - USA

Vette(s):
1975 Stingray Coupe 2014 Stingray Convertible


Joined: 1/9/2014
Posts: 27

They will not turn?  The other strange thing is that it will still bog down with the engine running and no drive shaft.  It did appear to have 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th.  But when you put it in reverse the shifting plate is not moving.  I hope I don't have to purchase a rear end and transmission. 

 

Re: 1975 Corvette 4 Speed rear wheels are locked up? (8/17)
 9/22/19 9:22pm
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Moderator
Send Private Message

Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20126

First, verify that the transmission is in neutral. Use a wrench on the linkages underneath, and position each shaft in the center of it's travel. If you get the front two shafts in the center, even if the trans is stuck in reverse, it should no longer bog the engine down. Be careful tho, and do not rev it up without the driveshaft connected to the trans yoke.

For the sound of it, you have two separate issues, but for both the trans AND diff to lock up at the same time is just too weird. Were there any strange noises before this all happened?



______________

Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    

My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)
             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Re: 1975 Corvette 4 Speed rear wheels are locked up? (9/17)
 9/26/19 8:27pm
Vetteman75Lifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Send Private Message

Wetumpka, AL - USA

Vette(s):
1975 Stingray Coupe 2014 Stingray Convertible


Joined: 1/9/2014
Posts: 27

Update on this Corvette.  I have taken the 1/2 shafts off of differential.  I can now turn the wheel hub.  When I grab differential you still can't make it budge.  I have 5 bolts to go to drop it down to see what is going on in the rear end.  I am wonder if the axle locking pin has slipped off and gotten into the gears.  Well anyway I will tackle the transmission after I get this differential turning.  

Re: 1975 Corvette 4 Speed rear wheels are locked up? (10/17)
 9/27/19 7:41pm
F4GaryGold Member
Gold Member
Send Private Message

Grapevine, TX - USA

Vette(s):
1972 LT-1 convertible with factory air.


Joined: 8/26/2006
Posts: 1406

Yes, you need to check the shifter levers on the tranny.  Make sure as Adam said, that the levers are all pointing straight up and not in a forward or aft detent.



______________

   

Re: 1975 Corvette 4 Speed rear wheels are locked up? (11/17)
 10/1/19 11:41am
Vetteman75Lifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Send Private Message

Wetumpka, AL - USA

Vette(s):
1975 Stingray Coupe 2014 Stingray Convertible


Joined: 1/9/2014
Posts: 27

Okay everyone thanks for your inputs.  Here is what I found when I opened up the rear end.  I had lots of bolts sheared off of the big pinion gear on the back side.  What is your take on that.  I know we rebuilt the engine and tranny but I can't believe it produced that much more horsepower.  Anyway would you rebuild this one or just go ahead and find a good used one and hopefully it would hold up.  Not to sure a tooth might not be chipped as I still can't turn the wheels I see a few more bolts down in there.  Any suggestions would be appreciated at this point.  Thanks again Dean

Re: 1975 Corvette 4 Speed rear wheels are locked up? (12/17)
 10/1/19 7:50pm
manchestersharkLifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Send Private Message

Equinunk, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1972 conv, 4-speed, 350, 200hp, numbers match, rally wheels, war bonnett yellow w/white top. good condition, nice driver.


Joined: 10/31/2007
Posts: 2381

In my opinion, it would be best if you called Brian Bair at his business and see if he can take your old one and trade it for a rebuilt one from his shop. That is their business. Corvettes and suspension. He may even have one that would be CORRECT for the numbers aspect if you want OEM status. 



______________


Click on image for full view

Re: 1975 Corvette 4 Speed rear wheels are locked up? (13/17)
 10/1/19 10:55pm
73shark
Limited Member
Send Private Message

Overland Park, KS - USA

Vette(s):
1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.


Joined: 7/9/2003
Posts: 864

Is the transmission still locked up?



______________

1973 L-82 4 spd

Re: 1975 Corvette 4 Speed rear wheels are locked up? (14/17)
 10/2/19 7:39am
Vetteman75Lifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Send Private Message

Wetumpka, AL - USA

Vette(s):
1975 Stingray Coupe 2014 Stingray Convertible


Joined: 1/9/2014
Posts: 27

Trying to get someone to rebuild the differential or finding a replacement then it will be on to the tranny.  If I had to guess I think it's still in 2 gears.

Re: 1975 Corvette 4 Speed rear wheels are locked up? (15/17)
 10/2/19 9:07am
manchestersharkLifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Send Private Message

Equinunk, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1972 conv, 4-speed, 350, 200hp, numbers match, rally wheels, war bonnett yellow w/white top. good condition, nice driver.


Joined: 10/31/2007
Posts: 2381

My Guess, is your trans problem is shifter related. Take the shifter rods off, and place the attaching plates straight up and down. Then try to turn the output shaft. Another guess, is that the trans locked up between shifts on the road, and the rear took the bulk of the abuse. Trans was tougher than the rear. IMO!



______________


Click on image for full view

Re: 1975 Corvette 4 Speed rear wheels are locked up? (16/17)
 11/8/19 10:22pm
Vetteman75Lifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Send Private Message

Wetumpka, AL - USA

Vette(s):
1975 Stingray Coupe 2014 Stingray Convertible


Joined: 1/9/2014
Posts: 27

Okay I need a little more help here.  I did finally manage to get the rear end completely rebuilt and everything turns.  Well when it was hooked back up to the drive shaft I couldn't turn it anymore.  I figured it must have been in gear.  I crawled back out from under it and just my luck it was in neutral.  Made me sick.  So then I got the granddaughter out there to go through the gears for me.  I saw the outside linkage work.  I saw the long inside linkage work.  I told her to put it in reverse.  The small linkage did not move but the one closest to the tranny moved.  So I am almost positive everyone is correct that it is in reverse and another gear.  Tell me again exactly in laymen terms what I need to do to get it out of gear and into neutral.  Does it mean that the transmission is bad (was rebuilt last winter in FL) or is the shifter linkage is bad?  Need your expertise to finish this baby or I will have to disconnect the drive shaft call a wrecker and take it to a garage which I don't want to do.  Come on now I know you can help me.  Where do I look for these pins?  HELP  Thanks again Dean

Re: 1975 Corvette 4 Speed rear wheels are locked up? (17/17)
 12/27/19 1:32pm
Vetteman75Lifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Send Private Message

Wetumpka, AL - USA

Vette(s):
1975 Stingray Coupe 2014 Stingray Convertible


Joined: 1/9/2014
Posts: 27

Finally got there and figured something out.  Got the rear end rebuilt after the Positive Traction bolts seared off. On to the transmission.  I didn't understand until I kept reading and rereading the post about the put the levers straight up.  I finally took off the bolts and low and behold there they were.  I took a wrench and changed them to straight up.  I move the reverse one forward ward since it only had two ways in or out.  Not sure about that one.  Got back up there started it up and bang I had wheels moving in 1st, 2nd, 3rd and of course no reverse.  Do I need to move it back to straight up and then put the linkage back on to make reverse work?  I at least know I can drive it to a garage if I have to.  It took me awhile but I almost have it all fixed.  Also does anyone have any sliders for a 75.  I was going to replace the seats in this car and the boy didn't like them.  I was lucky to have sold them but messed up and gave away the sliders.  I have a pair but they are to short.  Thanks again Dean!

Our Sponsors help support C3VR