I've done a search and wanted a little more info. My '02 Z just started making a popping sound. It occurs when there is no pressure on the drivetrain and you give it the gas. So if I was going 10mph in a parking lot, let off the gas and coasted, then gave it a little gas, I get a pop pop sound from the rear somewhere. Also does it starting out in first and sometimes can be heard from a 1 to 2 shift but not from 2-3 or 3-4 etc... Is this the rearend, sway bars, half shafts or what? I don't think it is the normal lash some experience. I have not put the car in the air yet to check bolts. Where to start? Thanks for any help.
Ronnie

 

Hi, Ronnie....One possibility to consider is the driveshaft "rubber" couplers....When they start cracking/going bad ,they will act as you have described....If you call Rob Walden at LAMAR WALDEN AUTOMOTIVE 770-449-0315 in Doraville,he can help/advise you....They also make special replacements....Lou

 

Rear axle nut did this to me. Back out the axle nut about an inch or so, spray WD-40 liberally inside, retorque to 125 ft-lbs. Solved my problem. Hardest part was obtaining a socket to fit the axle nut. Wish I could remember the size, but I can't. Sorry!

 

Very good chance this is your problem.

Bill

 

I'll try this first although I'm not sure how wd-40 will fix the problem or what is causing it in the first place. I hope it's not a worn drive shaft with only 32k. Thanks for the help.
Thanks Lou for the local info since I have not heard of many shops in the area that people will recommend.
R

 

My '02 Coupe was doing this about 6 months ago. It was the axle splines (this is what the axle nuts thread onto) in the rear wheels. I would recommend using lithium grease instead of wd-40. I also used a non-residue spray cleaner (can't remember exactly which one) and some compressed air to clean out the splines before putting in the lithium grease.

 

That did it. Thanks to all that responded.
R

 

My 99 is doing that I have noticed. I was reading about the axle nut and WD-40 so I did that this weekend and retorqued to 120 lbs, but it seems like something is still popping beween shifts. Any other things it could be? What does the WD-40 do to the axle splines?

 

It is amazing how I never noticed this question coming up until I posted a question back in June. Now, it seems like it gets asked almost daily.

If you want to solve the problem with the splined hub popping, you will need a lubricant heavier than WD40, and you will need to apply the lube on the inboard side of the spline, not just back the nut off and spray some light lubricant in.
Check this...
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1422289

This is the part you need to know...
This is a well known problem within the cv joint industry. The noise is coming from the splines, but it is caused by motion between the bearing face and abutment face on the joint which sticks due to friction but then slips as it is overcome by torque. When it slips, lash in the spline connection is taken up in the opposite direction and you hear the pop. This is why many auto companies now use a press fit (created by a helical spline) between the joint and hub.

As I mentioned earlier the same can happen within the bearing but this is much less likely. The best way to solve your problem is to lube the other end of the spline as this will let lube get between the bearing and the joint. This will prevent these 2 surfaces from sticking together until overcome by torque, which then results in the pop you hear. Spraying lube on the nut end relies on the oil working it's way along the length of the spline to get where it needs to go.


By the way, the nut takes a 33mm deep socket, which you should be able to get at an auto supply store. I think the same size fits some front wheel drive axle nuts. The correct torque is 118 ft-lbs

 

I got that size socket at pep boys, It's made by lilse, look by the front end tools, its a heavy black steel socket, I was a polpular size for Gm front wheel drive axel spline front wheel drive cars.

 

Yeah Buddy, my write up might actually get some use!!! http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...8&postcount=26

TEXHAWK0 is correct above, I tried the lazy way the first time around and it came back in a couple days - second time got behind the spindle and no problems since then...

 

Jbauch........thanks alot for that post. I am gonna remove the nut again in the morning and lube the back side of the rotor. Is WD-40 alright to use or is there something better?

 

Even though penetrating oil worked for me, I would advise using something a little heavier than WD-40. You could use a dab of clean motor oil, synthetic grease, white lithium grease, or pretty much anything you want for that matter. The important part is getting behind the hub...

 

Damn......maybe I just need to drive with earplugs! I pulled the nut back off and sprayed a Silkolene chain lubricant on both sides of the axle splines retorqued to 125 and the damn thing still pops when going from 1st to reverse and occasionally 1st-2nd. Could it be something else obvious that I am missing?

 

I sprayed just the spline the first time and still had a noise too. It is possible to spray the spline and still not get lube where it needs to be.

You need to make sure you coat the surface of the hub that tightens agains the bearing on the inside. Getting some on the splines will help keep lube in the area, but is not where the noise is coming from. I am not sure how heavy your lubricant is but I used 30wt motor oil and the noise went away. I soaked a Q-Tip in oil and swabbed all the surfaces out to the edge of the bearing. If I have to do it again, I think I would try a high temp. grease to make sure it stays in place.

 

Could there be anything else that could possibly be popping when I go from reverse to 1st or vise versa? Are there U-joints on these cars?

 

I would think a u-joint or CV joint would be more of a clunk than a pop. I could definitely tell my noise was coming from the hub and not the driveshaft. I could even make mine click by just rocking the car in gear by hand without the car running. I could put my hand on the hub, and rock the car forward or backward, and when I heard the noise, I could feel it in the hub. I could put my hand on the brake caliper, or the axle shaft, and could not feel it, so I was almost certain it was in the hub somewhere.

 

The noise is coming back on mine. I guess I'll try to get to the back of the hub this weekend. It was quiet for a few days.

R

 

If the noise went away at all, then at least you know you found the source of the problem.
With the wheel off, when you loosen the axle nut, you can push the axle in enough by hand to expose the surface between the CV joint hub and the bearing. I took a Q-tip, soaked it in motor oil, and swabbed the inside surface of the bearing and the spline. My noise has not returned, but if it does over time, I would consider using a light coating of grease instead of just oil.