Rear end broke loose?

[Chris Codd]

I have some serious trouble with the rear end on my car. I was driving a short distance today when it seemed to just break loose. I immediately pulled over to the side of the road, and it swayed so far that it broke the drivers side skirt off. I tried to get a look under the car and the drive shaft is hanging down at a very strange angle. Anybody ever have any similar problems? The car is VERY rusty, so I'm not ruling anything out. 

[Chris Codd]

Looks like you were right on the money Jason. I just ordered a new rear ball joint. I wanted to swap the rears out, but I was advised that it would be better to wait until I eventually transplant my car into the parts car. 

[Chris Codd]

Looks like it was a good thing that I purchased that parts car from you when I did. This will give me a good excuse to swap the rear ends out while i'm at it. I'm looking at the shop manual at the spherical joint and that must be what broke loose. The rear axle was angled downward as well as the drive shaft, and that's probably because the spherical joint lost its connection. I'll let you know when I find out more. Thanks Jason. 

[Jason Edge]

Chris, I am sure sorry about your car troubles. Guessing, it sounds like your upper spherical joint that connects the upper control yoke (rear end upper control arm) to the rear end differential casing broke loose.  Look in the shop manual on page 4-27, Fig 4-41.  If that rear upper ball joint breaks loose I believe the rear end would behave like you described. I would get it towed to a shop or to your house for repair. the parts car body and rear end I sold you should have a good control yoke with Spherical joint if that is the problem.