Left side rear axle noise
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
From: Oakland CA
Left side rear axle noise
My 1988 C4 started making a terrible sound. I though the brake caliper had come loose or something was dragging and about to fall off. I pulled the wheel off and didn't see anything obvious. I searched this forum and found a few threads referencing the teflon coated washer that fits on the half shaft. Well, that sure made sense so I acquired a new washer and installed it. Cleaned the splines and coated them with anti-seize. The old washer has evidence of galling on the side that was against the shoulder on of the axle but if it this washer hadn't been pointed out as the possible noise vector I wouldn't have had a problem reusing it.
Intermittently I still get a fairly loud clacking noise under heavy throttle at speeds below about 40 mph. The sound does seem to be wheel speed related. I torqued the spindle nut to 160 lbft. but I have seen reference to 200 lbft. is this an updated number?
Thanks
Intermittently I still get a fairly loud clacking noise under heavy throttle at speeds below about 40 mph. The sound does seem to be wheel speed related. I torqued the spindle nut to 160 lbft. but I have seen reference to 200 lbft. is this an updated number?
Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
I had rubbing clicking noises on my left rear axle. On the lift for another reason, I rotated each rear wheel back and forth while looking at the universal joints which I thought might be bad. The left wheel turned about 20 degrees upon reversal before the universal started turning. Bad wheel bearing.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
From: Oakland CA
Thanks for the replies. when I changed the washer, I had the hub/bearing assembly in my hand and it felt fine. The sound has definitely happened less frequently since I put the new washer in. Also, would a wheel bearing only make noise under load or would it be speed related? At what point does a bad bearing fault the ABS? because my ABS works fine.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 265
Likes: 1
From: Irwindale Ca
Have you jiggled your axles? Ive replaced my u joints about 4 times already. Most of the time I cant tell that their the U joints because they are jammed and the axle wont shake but they are bad. Have you ever replaced the U joints before? A common symptom is clacking when wheels are rotating.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,430
Likes: 2
Have you jiggled your axles? Ive replaced my u joints about 4 times already. Most of the time I cant tell that their the U joints because they are jammed and the axle wont shake but they are bad. Have you ever replaced the U joints before? A common symptom is clacking when wheels are rotating.
Pro
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 637
Likes: 0
I once had this weird clicking noise on the rear left side.
Turned out to be the two torx bolts that hold the caliper to the hub.
The thread on the end came to close to the rotor´s inside and scraped slightly on the rotor.
Might be something to look into for everyone with a vette.
Mine is a 1991 base coupe.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
From: Oakland CA
Would an universal joint make noise only under load and intermittently? There is no noise when coasting or when the car is running with the rear wheels off the ground. The caliper bolt clearance is fine, they are the oem bolts.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Under load both the u joints and wheel bearings are being forced to one side or the other depending on accelerating or decelerating. You generally cannot tell which is the cause. I have found with more frequency that high pitched squeeking is the u joint and for sure, low rumbling sound is the wheel bearing. Removal and inspection tells the story. Don't forget there are 2 u joints on each axle.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Paris Texas
rear noise
I have also began to have a loud noise from left rear. If the car sets up for two or three days the noise will have at the first forward motion. Sounds and feels like a brake problem. Happens one time per day (maybe?) I replaced pads no help. What was the part number of the washer? Where did you get it? I have no clicking noise, so I'm thinking bearing and washer. If you have an opinion or information, Thanks
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
From: Oakland CA
Under load both the u joints and wheel bearings are being forced to one side or the other depending on accelerating or decelerating. You generally cannot tell which is the cause. I have found with more frequency that high pitched squeeking is the u joint and for sure, low rumbling sound is the wheel bearing. Removal and inspection tells the story. Don't forget there are 2 u joints on each axle.
Moose start with this thread snapping noise and search for rear axle noise, there is a good exploded view that shows where the washer is. It's between the axle and the hub on the inner portion.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 265
Likes: 1
From: Irwindale Ca
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,043
Likes: 8
From: Tampa Florida
Sounds like U-joints.
I once had this weird clicking noise on the rear left side.
Turned out to be the two torx bolts that hold the caliper to the hub.
The thread on the end came to close to the rotor´s inside and scraped slightly on the rotor.
Might be something to look into for everyone with a vette.
Mine is a 1991 base coupe.
I once had this weird clicking noise on the rear left side.
Turned out to be the two torx bolts that hold the caliper to the hub.
The thread on the end came to close to the rotor´s inside and scraped slightly on the rotor.
Might be something to look into for everyone with a vette.
Mine is a 1991 base coupe.
Put the car in park or 1st (if it is a manual)....get out and shove the car back and forth hard.....listen for the same snap/crack noise. If you can hear the noise get down and take a look at the shaft for excessive movement at the joint while someone else shoves the car back and forth.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
From: Oakland CA
Okay, now I'm getting a vibration at 70 plus mph. It feels like something is out of balance, fairly low frequency but high amplitude. I'm going to take the left side apart again and take apart the u-joints just to be safe.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,014
Likes: 18
From: Raleigh, NC
If the bearing isn't bad (which it is, I can almost guarantee it) my next prediction is a U-joint. If a joint fails, the half shaft can move outboard more than it is supposed to. This can lead to the galling on the washer you found.
Last on my hit list is a bent outer stub axle. I've broken 10 outer stub axles or so on my car, and it's not inconceivable that one could bend before breaking. That could cause the vibration and other symptoms you are experiencing, but I think it's a pretty remote possibility.
Pro
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 637
Likes: 0
Put the car in park or 1st (if it is a manual)....get out and shove the car back and forth hard.....listen for the same snap/crack noise. If you can hear the noise get down and take a look at the shaft for excessive movement at the joint while someone else shoves the car back and forth.
I didn´t have the joint problem everyone seems to have here, it´s the torx bolts I meant that hold the brake caliper to the hub.
Either the bolts are a tiny bit too long, or the lock washer on that bolt is too thin.
It´s the thread on the end of the bolt that scraped the rotor, just take a close look behind the caliper and you know what I mean.
I solved it with an extra washer, been six months now or so and no probs.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
From: Oakland CA
Well, my apologies, it was the u-joint. The outer u-joint was extremely stiff almost seized along the axis of the pressed in caps. When it came out there were no rollers in one side and the other side they were very worn. Time for a test drive. Maybe tomorrow I replace the right side just to keep things balanced.
