U-Turn Noise
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
From: Mesa, AZ, USA
U-Turn Noise
What's the cause of the little intermittent gravelly noises from the back end of my '01 six-speed coupe when making U-turns?
I've got my car up for sale, and a potential buyer came by last night and noticed the sound while making tight, slow, left- and right-hand U-turns in my cul-de-sac. Figures! It was a deal-breaker, as he feared it was something potentially expensive.
I recall having heard these small noises years ago when the car was new, and I even reported them to the dealer, who couldn't duplicate them. But in the years since, I'd completely forgotten about them. Guess I don't make many U-turns, and the car's performance has been otherwise flawless. I only have 14,000 miles on it.
There's no warranty left, so any repair would be totally out-of-pocket for me. I had a '94 Z28 that did this (only worse), and the dealer fixed it by putting an additive in the differential. Of course, the Vette has a more complicated rear transaxle.
So two questions: 1) What is it? And 2) should I bother fixing it, or let it be the next owner's problem--if it even is a problem?
I've got my car up for sale, and a potential buyer came by last night and noticed the sound while making tight, slow, left- and right-hand U-turns in my cul-de-sac. Figures! It was a deal-breaker, as he feared it was something potentially expensive.
I recall having heard these small noises years ago when the car was new, and I even reported them to the dealer, who couldn't duplicate them. But in the years since, I'd completely forgotten about them. Guess I don't make many U-turns, and the car's performance has been otherwise flawless. I only have 14,000 miles on it.
There's no warranty left, so any repair would be totally out-of-pocket for me. I had a '94 Z28 that did this (only worse), and the dealer fixed it by putting an additive in the differential. Of course, the Vette has a more complicated rear transaxle.
So two questions: 1) What is it? And 2) should I bother fixing it, or let it be the next owner's problem--if it even is a problem?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
From: Mesa, AZ, USA
How easy?
Originally Posted by kg54trains
do the same. gm-1052358 is the part number for limited slip additive. That is a start, if this continues it may require additional work. The additive should work based on the milage
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,927
Likes: 3
From: Glendale NY
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18- '19
Limited slip additive
________________________________________ ____________________
[kg54trains]do the same. gm-1052358 is the part number for limited slip additive. That is a start, if this continues it may require additional work. The additive should work based on the milage
________________________________________ ____________________
If you don't want to attempt doing it yourself, buy the additive and take the car to your local repair shop. There is a plug at back of the differential. Add about 4-6 ounches. This should take care of your problem.
[kg54trains]do the same. gm-1052358 is the part number for limited slip additive. That is a start, if this continues it may require additional work. The additive should work based on the milage
________________________________________ ____________________
If you don't want to attempt doing it yourself, buy the additive and take the car to your local repair shop. There is a plug at back of the differential. Add about 4-6 ounches. This should take care of your problem.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
From: Mesa, AZ, USA
Sounds Simple
This plug on the differential--is it relatively easy to get at? Even with the Vette being as low as it is, there are some things you can reach with relative ease by just sliding on the ground under the back end. Could I locate this plug that way? And I'm assuming this isn't a downward-facing plug like the drain plug on the oil pan. I mean, I'm not gonna unscrew this thing and dump out all the fluid, am I?
If I can get at this thing and put in a few ounces of limited slip additive, I'd try it.
If I can get at this thing and put in a few ounces of limited slip additive, I'd try it.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,660
Likes: 9
From: Charlotte, NC
There is a fill hole and a drain hole. The fill hole is on top and would be obvious that by opening it, that it won't leak oil everywhere. The bottle is only 6 ounces or so, you would probably need to add only a couple of ounces.
You might be able to do this yourself, it depends on how skinny you are!
You might be able to do this yourself, it depends on how skinny you are!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,927
Likes: 3
From: Glendale NY
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18- '19
Fluid in a bottle
________________________________________ ____________________
[FASST LN]There is a fill hole and a drain hole. The fill hole is on top and would be obvious that by opening it, that it won't leak oil everywhere. The bottle is only 6 ounces or so, you would probably need to add only a couple of ounces.
You might be able to do this yourself, it depends on how skinny you are!
________________________________________ ____________________
When You're Right........You're Right
The bottle only holds 4 ounces, so half a bottle should be plenty.
The filler hole is a 10mm allen, you can see it underneath the car on the rear. You'll probably need an extension and a rachet, or breaker bar to get it loose. The bottle already has a cap designed to let you squeeze out the fluid. Then find yourself an open area and do about a half dozen tight figure eights to work the fluid into the clutches.
[FASST LN]There is a fill hole and a drain hole. The fill hole is on top and would be obvious that by opening it, that it won't leak oil everywhere. The bottle is only 6 ounces or so, you would probably need to add only a couple of ounces.
You might be able to do this yourself, it depends on how skinny you are!
________________________________________ ____________________
When You're Right........You're Right
The bottle only holds 4 ounces, so half a bottle should be plenty.
The filler hole is a 10mm allen, you can see it underneath the car on the rear. You'll probably need an extension and a rachet, or breaker bar to get it loose. The bottle already has a cap designed to let you squeeze out the fluid. Then find yourself an open area and do about a half dozen tight figure eights to work the fluid into the clutches.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
Originally Posted by GM Kid
What's the cause of the little intermittent gravelly noises from the back end of my '01 six-speed coupe when making U-turns?
I've got my car up for sale, and a potential buyer came by last night and noticed the sound while making tight, slow, left- and right-hand U-turns in my cul-de-sac. Figures! It was a deal-breaker, as he feared it was something potentially expensive.
I recall having heard these small noises years ago when the car was new, and I even reported them to the dealer, who couldn't duplicate them. But in the years since, I'd completely forgotten about them. Guess I don't make many U-turns, and the car's performance has been otherwise flawless. I only have 14,000 miles on it.
There's no warranty left, so any repair would be totally out-of-pocket for me. I had a '94 Z28 that did this (only worse), and the dealer fixed it by putting an additive in the differential. Of course, the Vette has a more complicated rear transaxle.
So two questions: 1) What is it? And 2) should I bother fixing it, or let it be the next owner's problem--if it even is a problem?
I've got my car up for sale, and a potential buyer came by last night and noticed the sound while making tight, slow, left- and right-hand U-turns in my cul-de-sac. Figures! It was a deal-breaker, as he feared it was something potentially expensive.
I recall having heard these small noises years ago when the car was new, and I even reported them to the dealer, who couldn't duplicate them. But in the years since, I'd completely forgotten about them. Guess I don't make many U-turns, and the car's performance has been otherwise flawless. I only have 14,000 miles on it.
There's no warranty left, so any repair would be totally out-of-pocket for me. I had a '94 Z28 that did this (only worse), and the dealer fixed it by putting an additive in the differential. Of course, the Vette has a more complicated rear transaxle.
So two questions: 1) What is it? And 2) should I bother fixing it, or let it be the next owner's problem--if it even is a problem?
Things
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
Originally Posted by GM Kid
What's the cause of the little intermittent gravelly noises from the back end of my '01 six-speed coupe when making U-turns?
I've got my car up for sale, and a potential buyer came by last night and noticed the sound while making tight, slow, left- and right-hand U-turns in my cul-de-sac. Figures! It was a deal-breaker, as he feared it was something potentially expensive.
I recall having heard these small noises years ago when the car was new, and I even reported them to the dealer, who couldn't duplicate them. But in the years since, I'd completely forgotten about them. Guess I don't make many U-turns, and the car's performance has been otherwise flawless. I only have 14,000 miles on it.
There's no warranty left, so any repair would be totally out-of-pocket for me. I had a '94 Z28 that did this (only worse), and the dealer fixed it by putting an additive in the differential. Of course, the Vette has a more complicated rear transaxle.
So two questions: 1) What is it? And 2) should I bother fixing it, or let it be the next owner's problem--if it even is a problem?
I've got my car up for sale, and a potential buyer came by last night and noticed the sound while making tight, slow, left- and right-hand U-turns in my cul-de-sac. Figures! It was a deal-breaker, as he feared it was something potentially expensive.
I recall having heard these small noises years ago when the car was new, and I even reported them to the dealer, who couldn't duplicate them. But in the years since, I'd completely forgotten about them. Guess I don't make many U-turns, and the car's performance has been otherwise flawless. I only have 14,000 miles on it.
There's no warranty left, so any repair would be totally out-of-pocket for me. I had a '94 Z28 that did this (only worse), and the dealer fixed it by putting an additive in the differential. Of course, the Vette has a more complicated rear transaxle.
So two questions: 1) What is it? And 2) should I bother fixing it, or let it be the next owner's problem--if it even is a problem?
Things like this are hard to find since you can't have it up on a lift and do a u-turn...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
From: Mesa, AZ, USA
Originally Posted by Wicked Weasel
Is it possible it could be one of those plastic endlinks for your swaybar that is just not working correctly?
Things like this are hard to find since you can't have it up on a lift and do a u-turn...
Things like this are hard to find since you can't have it up on a lift and do a u-turn...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
From: Mesa, AZ, USA
When You're Right........You're Right
The bottle only holds 4 ounces, so half a bottle should be plenty.
The filler hole is a 10mm allen, you can see it underneath the car on the rear. You'll probably need an extension and a rachet, or breaker bar to get it loose. The bottle already has a cap designed to let you squeeze out the fluid. Then find yourself an open area and do about a half dozen tight figure eights to work the fluid into the clutches.[/QUOTE]
Hey, this worked! I got the little bottle of fluid, and this past weekend I squirted it into the filler hole. I then went to a large parking lot and did several tight right- and left-hand circles, went for a drive, and then returned to the parking lot and did some more circles. The chatter is gone.
I think I'll contact that guy who wouldn't buy my car and let him know.
The bottle only holds 4 ounces, so half a bottle should be plenty.
The filler hole is a 10mm allen, you can see it underneath the car on the rear. You'll probably need an extension and a rachet, or breaker bar to get it loose. The bottle already has a cap designed to let you squeeze out the fluid. Then find yourself an open area and do about a half dozen tight figure eights to work the fluid into the clutches.[/QUOTE]
Hey, this worked! I got the little bottle of fluid, and this past weekend I squirted it into the filler hole. I then went to a large parking lot and did several tight right- and left-hand circles, went for a drive, and then returned to the parking lot and did some more circles. The chatter is gone.
I think I'll contact that guy who wouldn't buy my car and let him know.
