Clunking noise

rads42 · #1 (**permalink**) 09-03-2019, 02:48 PM

I noticed about a week ago I was hearing (and feeling) a bit of a clunking noise when getting on or off the gas. So this Saturday I spent a couple hours under the car inspecting everything from front to back, motor mounts, tranny mount, u-joints, brakes, e-brake, etc. Everything looked good, couldn't find a single thing out of place. So then Monday I took the panel off behind the seats for a different perspective and still found nothing.
After all of this I put the car in gear and rocked it back and fourth and when I do that I can hear the noise. It seems to be coming from the drivers side rear wheel area but I can't pinpoint it. If I'm in the car it sounds like its coming from the wheel, if I'm outside the car (near the wheel) it sounds like its coming from closer to the center of the car. I'm inclined to thing its closer to the wheel because with that panel off I think it would be obvious if it were in or near the differential. Anybody have any suggestions?

Eric

CJ428CJ · #2 (**permalink**) 09-03-2019, 03:16 PM

Possibly a you-joint in the half shaft?

Grubby · #3 (**permalink**) 09-03-2019, 04:09 PM

What CJ428CJ said. Pull the half shaft and install new universal joints.

John

patrickt · #4 (**permalink**) 09-03-2019, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rads42

After all of this I put the car in gear and rocked it back and fourth and when I do that I can hear the noise. It seems to be coming from the drivers side rear wheel area but I can't pinpoint it. If I'm in the car it sounds like its coming from the wheel, if I'm outside the car (near the wheel) it sounds like its coming from closer to the center of the car. I'm inclined to thing its closer to the wheel because with that panel off I think it would be obvious if it were in or near the differential. Anybody have any suggestions?

It can only be a couple of things, unless something is loose and you didn't spot it, so the only advice I'll throw in is not to be buffaloed by the sound of the trap doors that flap in the gas tank when you push the car back and forth.

Assuming that's not it, put your car up on 2 x 10's and get under the car while someone else does the shoving. Don't just listen, but actually put your hands on the half shaft u-joints, the differential, and drive shaft u-joints, everything. If there is something misbehaving, you can feel it in your hands when you hear the ker-chunk. Just make sure your buddy doesn't push the car off the ends of the planks on to your chest. That will make for a very bad day.

But I wouldn't even think about yanking a half shaft out until I was damn sure I knew what the problem was.

Gaz64 · #5 (**permalink**) 09-03-2019, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJ428CJ

Possibly a you-joint in the half shaft?

Yes, could be.

But the correct spelling is U-Joint, short for Universal joint.

The OPs description sounds more than a universal joint, if it is a u-joint then it should be obvious.

Gary

ACademic · #6 (**permalink**) 09-03-2019, 05:33 PM

I would recommend pulling the rear wheels and check for play in the upper and lower control arms.

ERA 626 · #7 (**permalink**) 09-03-2019, 05:39 PM

sounds like rear diff to me... ask me how I know this :-(

rads42 · #8 (**permalink**) 09-04-2019, 06:54 AM

I certainly hope you're wrong ERA626. I never beat on this car like dropping the clutch or anything. The most I do is get it rolling and then get on it. the motor is a 428 but it's nothing crazy from a horsepower standpoint so I'd be surprised if the diff was hurt. I'd even be surprised if a u-joint was hurt. The car only has about 6,000 miles on it. I'll get a wheel off this weekend and see if I can find anything. Thanks for the opinions and input, they're much appreciated.

Sailfish · #9 (**permalink**) 09-04-2019, 07:58 AM

Have you checked the shocks? I had a similar issue and it turned out to be a loose bolt holding the shock.