Finally found it!

[vetteboy86]

I finally figured out what was making noise on my car. It sounded so much like a u joint problem i replaced them twice. After inspecting suspension parts, replacing the motor mounts i narrowed it down. I have wear in the differential. A friend and mechanic told me when he looked at it that there was wear between the gears and there is an adjustment for the ring and pinion gear. By using shims you can adjust the gears in and out. So my question is has anybody else experienced this? Did you do it yourself, or take it somewhere to be done?

thanks

 

[Moonunit 451]

I finally figured out what was making noise on my car. It sounded so much like a u joint problem i replaced them twice. After inspecting suspension parts, replacing the motor mounts i narrowed it down. I have wear in the differential. A friend and mechanic told me when he looked at it that there was wear between the gears and there is an adjustment for the ring and pinion gear. By using shims you can adjust the gears in and out. So my question is has anybody else experienced this? Did you do it yourself, or take it somewhere to be done?

thanks

You are hurtin' me man, I have a kind of hollow clunk, that I can not track down! Sometimes I can't even tell if it's coming from the front or rear, maybe both. The only thing I know for sure is it's on the right side. It happens on only certain "bumps", nothing I can really pinpoint, and it seems to be worse when it's starting (?), cold, less after moving for just a few minutes.

This started EXACTLY when I put my new 17's on, but, I've changed wheels (more times than I want to admit) in the last month, and found a couple places where the 315's looked to have been hitting some plastic in the wheelwell. I "moded" those areas and it seems less.

BUT, just today, while I was up on the lift, agian, :eyerole changing yet more wheels and tires, a guy came in and was checking the play in my Ays end (diff) He was talking to me about the same thing you are suggesting
The only real way to test this is to pull the half shafts and check the lateral play.

Now I don't want to say how many times my halfshafts have been pulled, but let's just say I'm damn sick of doing it. I put a D44 in less than 4 mos. ago and, I replaced the pinion seal on the front side and cleaned everything up, checked it all out and put the REDLINE in TWICE I don't remember checking that play.

I've checked everything else five times. I don't know wher to go from here. I guess I'm gonna have to pull the halfshafts AGAIN and check the diff to rule it out. I might (will) change the rear shocks out AGAIN to be sure the new (used) Bilstien didn't bust up on me, but I can't find it!

This car is on the lift at least three times a week! If anyone knows anything, bring it on, PLEASE. I'm a little worried about running this car at 130 or so for over an hour without finding this problem first

 

[86PACER]

I had a similar "clunk" sound. It was cause by a loose rear spindle nut. Took me a while to think of checking that before I found it.They need to be torqued to 165 ft. lbs. Easy check if you have not done it already.

 

[vetteboy86]

Well this clunk i have only happens once in a while. Sometimes the car goes into drive or reverse easy, other times it slams into gear and makes a clunk. I wait until the car comes out of fast idle, at about 600 RPM's and it still makes a noise sometimes, but not always. If i am at a stop and try to put the car under any power i have a clunk. It has just been one big pain.

 

[Moonunit 451]

I had a similar "clunk" sound. It was cause by a loose rear spindle nut. Took me a while to think of checking that before I found it.They need to be torqued to 165 ft. lbs. Easy check if you have not done it already.

I'll check that the next time I'm up (proly tomorrow) . Here's the latest configuration, and an examle of what 9.5 sawbldes with 315/35's and 275/40's look like without the appropriate spacers :eyerole

 

[Edmond]

Moonunit,

Check out the bushings on the sway bar as well. I had that clunk sound when I hit certain bumps. One of the bushings and it's bracket had blown out and the sway bar was hitting the top.

 

[jsinga]

I think the clunk you all are talking about is in the posi unit not the ring and pinion. If the ring and pinion get that much play in them they are history in short order. Old wives tale: if you go messing with the adjustment on a used ring and pinion you will end up with a noisy (winning) rear end.
The clutch packs can be loose and worn; you can tighten them up with new plates, steels and shims.
Read through the GM shop manual rear end section.

JS

 

[craig0ry]

Well this clunk i have only happens once in a while. Sometimes the car goes into drive or reverse easy, other times it slams into gear and makes a clunk. I wait until the car comes out of fast idle, at about 600 RPM's and it still makes a noise sometimes, but not always. If i am at a stop and try to put the car under any power i have a clunk. It has just been one big pain.

same here....

 

[Moonunit 451]

I'll check that the next time I'm up (proly tomorrow) . Here's the latest configuration, and an examle of what 9.5 sawbldes with 315/35's and 275/40's look like without the appropriate spacers :eyerole

Well I've cecked the Bushings, don't see any thing that looks or feels bad there, haven't checked the spidle yet, but I can say I'm getting it DEFINATELY in the front as well as I'm pretty damn sure in the back as well. Right side only! I guess I'm gonna replace the shocks?

 

[Mad-Mic]

that don't look bad! a friend of mine is giving me a very well used set of BFG DR's in 315/35/17" and i don't think they will fit under the wheel well! the 285/40/17 F1's barely do now! there is a small bar on the passanger side that goes laterally and seems to only be 1/4" play for clearance if that. same on the other side.

did you use spacers?

I'll check that the next time I'm up (proly tomorrow) . Here's the latest configuration, and an examle of what 9.5 sawbldes with 315/35's and 275/40's look like without the appropriate spacers :eyerole

 

[Moonunit 451]

No spacers and they do rub in certain situations on the inner fenderwells on both sides.

 

[CLABORN1960]

315s on an 9.5 rim?? I thought you couldn't or weren't suppose to do that? Won't the tire come off the rim?

 

[oldace84]

Congrat's and Good Luck!

tony

 

[Moonunit 451]

I think the clunk you all are talking about is in the posi unit not the ring and pinion. If the ring and pinion get that much play in them they are history in short order. Old wives tale: if you go messing with the adjustment on a used ring and pinion you will end up with a noisy (winning) rear end.
The clutch packs can be loose and worn; you can tighten them up with new plates, steels and shims.
Read through the GM shop manual rear end section.

JS

Not tranny for me. And I found the front one yesterday while the tranny dood was installing my shift kit :J Lower ball joint, right front Hope that does it