Rear end problem

  So the other day I pulleed out onto the highway and accelerated, much to my dismay it sounded like someone had tied a bunch of tin cans onto the back of my 81 vette, so I pulled over quickly and put the car in nuetral as I stopped the noise continued .  So I had the car towed back to my garage.  This morning I started to investigate what my probolem might be, I started the car and put it in drive and heard a very loud clunk similar to hiting metal with a sledge hammer.  Then I tried reverse with the same results, never heard a noise as loud as this.  The only rear end experience I have is changing them out on a 79 Fiat Spyder.  I have not jacked it up yet, just came in a read my manual on the Rear end.  Suggestions are welcome

 Thanks, Dan

Hi, Need more information. Could be half shaft U joints. Could be ring and pinion. Also main drive shaft U joints. Any noise at all before the initial failure? No scrapping or clunking prior to stop or acceleration. Jack it up. Eyes on will give some indication of failure.

The clunking could be the snubber on the front of the differential.  Is it still there and have rubber on it?

I really have not had any issues with the rear end since I had it magna-fluxed and rebuilt four years ago.  No strange noises, it performed nicely.  It was definately a lot more quiet than before I had it rebuilt, but it did seem as if the backlash was not set as well as it should have been.

F-4 gary You may be describing the piece of metal and rubber I picked up off the middle of the road, it was in two pieces, the metal was bent up but at one time it did have a rubber bumper on it.  Where is it actually suppose to be located.  I will check this out tomorrow.   When I Jack the car up should I first take off the tires to reduce the weight on the rear end?

If the front diff mount/pinion snubber is completely gone, the front of the diff can twist up/down, and usually the driveshaft will beat on the bottom of the body. It can also allow the halfshafts to run out of whack, making noise. From your description, what you picked up was the front diff mount/snubber. 

Here's a pic of the older style set-up, followed by a diagram of what your car should have. hth 🤠

Well the winner was Manchestershark, my passenger side half shaft u-joint broke on the inner side of the wheel and decimated the shock absorber as well as taking out part of the trailing arm.  So now I need to start chasing some parts down.

Thanks for everyones suggestions.  Hard to believe the damage it did in approximately 100 feet and the noises it made.

Thanks again, Dan

Yikes! Better call Bairs. They have every piece you may need to repair/replace . Thanks for the update. They also are a huge supporter of this venue and Registry. 

Yikes!  Guess it was obvious once you got under there.  Just keep telling yourself, "it's a hobby!".

Well, I hope the High Test burns a little leaner on the next take off!