Rear End Clank

[snitcher]

On my 84vette ...what makes the "clank" noise in the rear end when I put it in gear? How how can I fix this?

 

[C4Tom]

Sounds like a universal joint that's going/gone bad. There are 6 of them back there, 2 on the drive shaft and 2 on each half shaft. I would start by checking the ones on the drive shaft.

 

[vetteboy86]

I have found that sometimes noises are hard to track down. I recently had my car to the shop for a rear end clunk with no explanations. However I would start at the U joints like mentioned above. They are the easiest place for me to start. Are there certain times when the noise occurs or is it always? What is your RPM's when you put the car into gear? Just a few things to think about. I hope you have good success, and let us know what happens.


Craig

 

[Vettefan87]

Are you positive it is comming from the rear? It may be a transmission mount that has let go, but if I were you I would start at the U-Joints, then go from there.


Justin

 

[JonM]

In 84 their was a recall for the Differential Cross Shaft which made a clunk noise. You may want to ask your chevy dealer to run your vin number and see if the fix was installed.

 

[taegdh]

Also check all the mounting points for the Trans and Rear Differential and suspension, to ensure all the fasteners are tightened to specs. If one bolt is loose, it can create havoc on the rest of the driveline and suspension, plus do a good job on your mind.

 

[WNH]

I just had my 4 half shaft U-Joints replaced.

There was a big clunk before, now its mostly gone.

 

[vettered91]

I've been tracking down that clank for more than a year, took off the transmission (to change oil pump & TC), replaced 4 of the 6 "U" joints, changed ring, pinion & bearings!

The "clunk" keeps "growing stronger", there's only two more "U" joints to go, and after that: ¿what else can I do?

I hope these thread can give us a light! (just in case my two last "U" joints are not the answer)

 

[geekinavette]

I JUST rebuilt the entire suspension on my '84. New U-joints (ALL of them), all new poly bushings, new bearings, new shocks, new brakes.

The annoying "klink" is still there. Notice I describe it as a "klink" instead of a "klank". The difference...the "klink" is more of a hollow sound, without question coming from the half-shafts. I notice the "klink" only when taking off, or when downshifting...pointing to the source as the transfer of force to the drive chain changing directions.

I talked to a local Corvette specialist about this. One possibility is that the "yoke" that goes through the splined rear wheel bearing is actually moving relative to the bearing splines. The metal-to-metal contact of the splines when the yoke "slips" is resonating within the halfshaft, causing the "klinking" sound. Now, when I was doing the suspension rebuild I obtained a diagram of the rear suspension from a dealer (will post it as soon as I can dig it up), and there is a shim listed in the diagram that sits between the halfshaft yoke and the wheel bearing. My car did not have these shims. The Corvette specialist listed above said that most he'd worked on did not have them either. I'm thinking that just maybe the um-teen gazillion foot-pounds of torque on the nut that secures the yoke to the bearing is not really pulling the yoke in tight enough into the splines of the bearing, thus allowing the yoke to "slip" inside the bearing splines, and the shim was added later to correct this problem. Maybe this "shim" was the original GM service recall? Definately warrants further investigation...but I think I will just try adding the shim and see if that helps.

Bill

 

[rwpeders]

What about the rear differential?

 

[vetteboy86]

I had my car at the shop and they coudn't find the clunk my car has either. I spent countless hours with a pry bar, and checking everything. I changed U joints twice because after the first time I thought there was a chance i missed and put a bad one on. The shop owner told me that every one of the cars he had there at the time had a specific noise to the specific car. I guess I will never know unless something breaks.


Craig

 

[chevyaddict]

Alas..... this mysterious clunk, klunk, klink, klank or whatever plagues many a year corvette. My 81 is having the exact same problem AFTER rebuilding the entire rear end and replacing u-joints. Oiy! :confused

 

[vince v]

A few months ago, I ran over a pot hole. I instanly got a clunking noise. Pulled into a gas station, the right rear tire had a wobble in it. The mechanic tightened it and got me home. A few day later it started again. A local mechanic checked it out and said that it needed a right hub and bearing. Had it replaced, the clunk is gone. Expect to pay between $110 and $300, that's for the hub/bearing, then the labor.

Good luck

 

[boblx2a]

A few months ago, I ran over a pot hole. I instanly got a clunking noise. Pulled into a gas station, the right rear tire had a wobble in it. The mechanic tightened it and got me home. A few day later it started again. A local mechanic checked it out and said that it needed a right hub and bearing. Had it replaced, the clunk is gone. Expect to pay between $110 and $300, that's for the hub/bearing, then the labor.

Good luck

You were in luck. I just had the left rear bearing replaced on my '85 and it was $517.00. The part alone was $211.00. I have bought 3 of them now between my '85 and my '86 and all of them cost roughly that amount at the parts store where I get a mechanic's discount.
I replaced the others myself but got tired of fighting with those parking brakes so I decided to spell myself this time. Maybe a $300.00 labor charge will cure me of that sickness!
The garage said that the book called for 6 hours and he did it in just 4. Sure glad it didn't take him 6!

........................

 

[vince v]

You were in luck. I just had the left rear bearing replaced on my '85 and it was $517.00. The part alone was $211.00. I have bought 3 of them now between my '85 and my '86 and all of them cost roughly that amount at the parts store where I get a mechanic's discount.
I replaced the others myself but got tired of fighting with those parking brakes so I decided to spell myself this time. Maybe a $300.00 labor charge will cure me of that sickness!
The garage said that the book called for 6 hours and he did it in just 4. Sure glad it didn't take him 6!

........................

I bought my hub from http://www.tld-corvette.com/, for $115. The shop charged 4 hours (75/hr.), $300. Total was $415. I wanted to do the work my self, really didn't want to do it in the driveway.

 

[Alloydude]

Had that same noise in the rear of my 84. Replaced all 6 U-joints and the bearing hub assembly’s and the noise still prevailed. Searched some previous posts on this forum and found one describing the same sound and his solution was putting some ani-seize compound on the splined shaft that on the end of the half shaft that goes into the bearing hub assembly. So I reluctantly pulled my half shafts out one more time and did the same. And yes I do believe that it is important to have that shim or washer in place as well. Happy to say problem solved. No more noise.

 

[krgoodman]

I just had my 4 half shaft U-Joints replaced.

There was a big clunk before, now its mostly gone.

do ya mind telling me what that cost? i hear a clunk sometimes when i back out of my sloped driveway.
thanks, email always welcomed
kevin

 

[vince v]

do ya mind telling me what that cost? i hear a clunk sometimes when i back out of my sloped driveway.
thanks, email always welcomed
kevin

I would recommand that you post a new thread, to get a fresh set of eyes. Good luck.

 

[vettered91]

I've been tracking down that clank for more than a year, took off the transmission (to change oil pump & TC), replaced 4 of the 6 "U" joints, changed ring, pinion & bearings!

The "clunk" keeps "growing stronger", there's only two more "U" joints to go, and after that: ¿what else can I do?

I hope these thread can give us a light! (just in case my two last "U" joints are not the answer)

Guess what?

I had a "klunk" and some kind of "klink". It always seemed to come from the left half shaft. When we lifted de car to change the last two "U" joints, we noticed that we could move the left tire a little (ok,maybe more than a "little") so in a close look you could see that the left rear tie rod end was worn-out and making noice!
We checked the other side and it was in a better shape but still with some "play". Ended up changing both sides and now I can feel the difference in a more quiet and better handling (my left tire was "turning left" at every launch)

Now the "klink" its gone, but I still hear some "klunk" from time to time!!! :confused

Take care!

 

[vince v]

Guess what?

I had a "klunk" and some kind of "klink". It always seemed to come from the left half shaft. When we lifted de car to change the last two "U" joints, we noticed that we could move the left tire a little (ok,maybe more than a "little") so in a close look you could see that the left rear tie rod end was worn-out and making noice!
We checked the other side and it was in a better shape but still with some "play". Ended up changing both sides and now I can feel the difference in a more quiet and better handling (my left tire was "turning left" at every launch)

Now the "klink" its gone, but I still hear some "klunk" from time to time!!! :confused

Take care!

Sounds good.

Good luck