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Not to be offensive, but how familiar are you with manual transmission cars, particularly transmissions designed to hand high horsepower? All manuals can make the sounds you describe under certain conditions. Some Z's make more noise than others, and the way your use the clutch can also make a difference in how much noise is generated.
It might be worth test driving or riding in some other Z's to get a better overview. The service guy isn't necessarily wrong or misleading you, but it's worth checking out, and I certainly understand your concern.
This week I have to bring my car in for service at my local dealer for some electrical gremlins. Since buying my car used about one year ago I have had noises coming from the drive train that I am not sure is normal. I thought it would be a good time to have the noise checked out if it is considered not normal. Whenever I shift and load up the drive train I hear a distinct clanking metalic sound almost as if the drive train has excessive play in it. When I originally purchased the car I did not take it for a test drive. It was very clean and had the original tires with 6300 miles. After about a week of this noise I called the dealer about the noise and he told me it was "normal" for the Z06. What do you think? Normal or not.
:skep:
A certain amount is normal. There is less sound dampening material in the car for weight-savings purposes so sounds come through to the cabin more readily. Also, if you have an aftermarket shifter, that may be an additionaly cause. Since it's going in to the dealer anyway, you're right to have it checked for peace of mind. Let us know what they say. :thumbs:
Most of my experience with manual transmissions have been a Nissan, Mercedes and a Mercury Capri. No high horsepower cars. My concern is the last owner may have abused the car causing worn universals, drive shafts, etc, etc. Tomorrow it will go in for service. Hopefully the dealer will be straight up with me as to what is normal or not. You are absolutely right about riding in other Z06's to compare sounds. I will keep everyone posted as to what the dealer has to comment.
I have no idea how my post got to the top above yours.
Depending upon how the clutch and gas are used, the driveline can buck and jerk, both on accel and decel. Try changing your timing, smoothness and the speed with which you let out the clutch, again both on accel and decel. My guess would be to try it more slowly. Some Z tranny's are also inherently noisy in neutral, but both the slack and noise have been the case since the first C4's. Part of it is a design issue.
Since some of the noises are driver sensitive, if you can drive the cars, it'd be more revealing than riding with someone else. Unless someone else can drive your car and make them go away, of course.
As for the car being abused, check the tires, specifically, the date codes. If the rears are a lot newer, they may have been replaced. I don't have the code breakdown, but it's a lot of places on the web. Of course, if drag radials were used, etc., that wouldn't show up. Good luck.
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