So about two weeks ago my car developed an odd "thunking" sound from the rear end when accelerating from a stop. I checked the forum archives and decided that a differential mount had worn out and that I would check it out soon. (Mistake 1.)

Two days ago I was driving home, turning left from a stop, when I heard the most awful "thunk" sound followed by a loud grinding noise. The car started to roll backwards and I heard metal dragging on the ground (later revealed to be a half-shaft). D'oh. So I shut it off and put the hazard lights on. A friend stopped a minute later and helped me move it to the side of the road. We called a tower with a flatbed truck.

The next day I jacked the car up to take a look. Sure enough, the flange which hooks on to the wheel & half-shaft is snapped clean in half. Part of the u-joint is also broken off in the flange, missing a cap. I figure that the cap came off two weeks ago and was causing the "thunk." I'm not sure about that though.

Luckily, I was just accelerating from a stop. I don't want to think about what might have happened had I been going down the highway. :blueangel:

Anyway, I got a replacement flange from the local Corvette shop and a u-joint from Canadian Tire and had it fixed up fairly quickly. There was no damage to other parts, thank God.

The old flange was being held on by 2 bolts instead of 4: two on one side and none on the other. Guess which side snapped off? :mad

I've learned my lesson though. From now on, I am going to thoroughly investigate any problems that pop up. I love my car, but I don't want to die in it.


Cheers
:cheers:

 

OUCH!

Yesterday I was underneath my car, looking at the new joints in the half shafts. I see that the left side flange from the shaft to the hub bearing is not quite all the way tight (the lock washer not compressed all the way ) :smash:

Now, I have been for months trying to figger out what is making this darn clicking sound left rear when I drive. Yesterday I thunk ... Hmmm this must be it! ... well I put an impact wrench on those bolts and now they are all tight. But the clicking sound is still there!@
:nonod:

 

I had been hearing an odd whirring noise coming from under my hood. I figured it was my water pump. But just to be sure, before I pulled out of my drive, I popped the hood.

There was the alternator, resting against the valve cover, the belt was thrown, and the fan was at a standstill. HOLY....:eek:

My alternator mounting bolt had disappeared. The alternator fell and then, one thing led to another. Talk about lucky.

So as you said, never take any noises for granted. Investigate everything.