Drivetrain issue
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2010
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From: Austin TX
Drivetrain issue
I have an 88 Automatic. I've been having some odd clicky and almost grindy noises coming from my rear wheels lately. So I put the car on jack stands to see if I could diagnose. I couldn't replicate any of the sounds, but my tires would spin on their own while the car was on, in neutral. I hear it shouldn't do that. Any input?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,024
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From: Austin TX
What would be a good way to diagnose that? U-joints and I aren't friends. We have history. I'd prefer not doing those. Though, it's cheaper than wheel bearings.
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2010
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From: Austin TX
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Jacksonville FL
Clicking noises point to U joints, grinding more so to bearings to me. Either can make both tho depending on how worn out. GM also produced a TSB to use a teflon washer to help with noise issues.
I dont think it matters if both wheels are off the ground when you check for play. Anything more than an 1/8th or so is a indication of worn bearings.
Good luck!
I dont think it matters if both wheels are off the ground when you check for play. Anything more than an 1/8th or so is a indication of worn bearings.
Good luck!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,024
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From: Austin TX
There's no play in the wheels, so I'm guessing not bearings thankfully. There's a bulge I discovered in my passenger side tire, could that cause the noise?
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Race Director
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Suppose it were a bearing. The odds that both sides would fail at the exact same time and to the exact same extent are extremely low. So since you tested them and they both felt the same then they are ok.
I think you wrote about a "clicky" and a "grindy". I could buy the "clicky" sound being from the bulge but not the "grindy".
For the "grindy" I would look to the teflon washer on the spindle and U-joints at this point.
For the "grindy" I would look to the teflon washer on the spindle and U-joints at this point.
Team Owner
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From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
To test the half-shaft U-joints jack one wheel, remove the wheel and try to rotate the rotor. If there is any rotation that is not carried right into the differential output shaft you have located the problem point.
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Melting Slicks
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From: Austin TX
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Minneapolis MN
If there is a buldge in sidewall then thats not causing noise.My corvette sometimes makes a growling noise briefly when taking off from a stop after putting the trans in drive,then the noise goes away & I never hear it again.The growling is only for a few seconds & I have no driveability issues so I'm not worried about it & it only happens right after shifting into D from being in Park.Is this the same thing happening to your car?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,024
Likes: 4
From: Austin TX
If there is a buldge in sidewall then thats not causing noise.My corvette sometimes makes a growling noise briefly when taking off from a stop after putting the trans in drive,then the noise goes away & I never hear it again.The growling is only for a few seconds & I have no driveability issues so I'm not worried about it & it only happens right after shifting into D from being in Park.Is this the same thing happening to your car?