Need advice on rear-end noise.

Joined
21 July 2003
Messages
65
Location
Minneapolis
Hello Primers, here is the scoop.

When the car is pushed and the wheels are turned, even slightly, the rear part of the car makes a clicking noise, and even shakes the car a little bit, as if the car is partially in gear. When the wheels are straight the noise goes away. Any thoughts?

A little background…

'92 w/fresh motor, new clutch (SOS Twin carbon), a new driver's side driveshaft, the other rebuilt, rebuilt factory brakes, new wheel bearings, and new camber bushings (Titanium Dave's) all new fluids (white cap Honda MTF fluid), no time on the road. As we push the car around in the shop, we think it must be a differential noise, but prior to the rebuild, I don't recall ever hearing or feeling something so noticeable. We have not broken in the motor, so no road testing yet, this is just based on pushing the car.

We did not go through the transmission and have no knowledge if there was an aftermarket differential installed. (This was Armando's car)

Looking for thoughts? Could it be a performance differential that would do this? Is something out of alignment?

Thanks!
 
I am not the guy to ask but the only think I can think of is a bad rear universal joint. Waiting for the Prime Masters to weigh in...

You could do a quick check and see if the CV boots are split open. Based on what you said I would say it's a long shot.
 
...........armando's old car............check for loose patron bottel in trunk.....:wink:
 
If you have a "rear-end noise" you may want to consider holding off on the beans!

Do you have aftermarket sway bars or toe links etc?

they may require greasing perhaps?

The new camber bushings have less give and may be putting little more stress on these parts.

I am no expert just thinking out loud.
 
Not to be an alarmist, but it sounds like a chipped tooth in one of the planet gears in the differential. When the wheels are straight ahead, planet gears don't turn, but as the car turns the planet gears start to spin. Does the clicking frequency go up as you turn the steering wheel more off center. If so, then it's probably a planet gear. Perhaps, you can pull the drain plug on the tranny and look for any metal fragments. If you find any, then you know what you are dealing with.

Gary
 
Last edited:
Sorry I haven't responded to any of your thoughts, to much business travel. I really appreciate the suggestions, and I hope to get a video posting submitted soon. We are going to look at the driveshafts to see if they are binding with the new camber. My gut tells me Captain Gary may be on the right path...
 
Check the rear axles?
 
Here are some fresh videos, still trying to debug the noise, or at least look for an easy out before the heavy lifting starts. My gut tells me it is the differential, as captngaryr advised. Checked driveshafts, and all obvious visuals. Alignment is next on the list just, lots of new suspension parts.

Greatly appreciate any thoughts on the cause, hopefully the videos tell a better story....next step will be to pull the tranny. ugh! (anybody have a deal on a diff?)

http://youtu.be/Px1gmnJq85M
http://youtu.be/3u7yikm5SLs

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Px1gmnJq85M" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3u7yikm5SLs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
Last edited:
Second from last video is interesting...!!!!

front wheels turned. click, click, click
straighten up and the clicking stops...
front wheels turned again and the clicking is back.


Could this be a LSD? Apparently some aftermarket are noisy and i think only do it when the front wheels are turned because both axles are turning at different speeds.

I'm no expert by all means.
 
Could this be a LSD? Apparently some aftermarket are noisy and i think only do it when the front wheels are turned because both axles are turning at different speeds.
I'm no expert by all means.

I don't see how it could be anything other than the LSD.
The LSD is the only variable being brought in and out in video 3 when the car turning vs straight.
I'm not an expert either though.
 
Well, we really tried to find a problem outside the transmission, driveshafts, suspension, but everything looked good. So we dropped the transmission last weekend, and didn't see anything obvious yet, but we are going thought the process now. Hope to have a better update by next week.

My travel schedule has been interfering with car fun, hope to be driving it soon.
 
Hope you get it straightened out! Please post pics of your car... we all use to love Armondo's and it's been MIA for quite some time!
 
Update - I replaced the diff, and rebuilt the transmission in the process, and also replaced both driveshafts. Based on the way we diagnosed the issue, I am 80% sure it is was the diff. Thanks for all the advice! Off to tuning...Much gratitude to Kevin @ Imola and Mo.

- - - Updated - - -

Screen Shot 2013-09-19 at 10.17.59 PM.jpgScreen Shot 2013-09-19 at 10.31.17 PM.jpg
 

Attachments

  • Screen Shot 2013-09-19 at 10.17.28 PM.jpg
    Screen Shot 2013-09-19 at 10.17.28 PM.jpg
    48 KB · Views: 26
  • Screen Shot 2013-09-19 at 10.17.59 PM.jpg
    Screen Shot 2013-09-19 at 10.17.59 PM.jpg
    67.6 KB · Views: 27
Last edited:
Back
Top