Need Help: 2004 Corvette making grindy noises when turning..
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 18
Likes: 2
From: Florida
Need Help: 2004 Corvette making grindy noises when turning..
Hello,
I am hoping someone can give me some advice so I don't get taken
advantage of by a dealer when I take my 2004 Corvette in for service.
I have a 2004 Corvette Coupe with 30,000 miles. It is a California
car and has never seen snow or salty roads. I don't even drive it
in the rain. It sleeps mostly in garage and is driven about 1 day a
week on the weekends.
Recently it started making slight grinding noises when making moderate
turns either to the right or left. This happens even when no gas is
applied. I only notice it when turning into a parking spot. If driving
straight there is no sound. Driving down the road I don't here it
either. I tested a radius circle in a parking lot with no brakes applied
and hear it as well so it's not a braking issue.
Can anyone suggest what this might be? My parents on the East
Coast just went though an ordeal with a dealer on their Acura where
they just kept replacing things until their car was "right again" and
they got ripped off for $3000 so I am very weary of dealerships..
Thanks for your help!
Tom
I am hoping someone can give me some advice so I don't get taken
advantage of by a dealer when I take my 2004 Corvette in for service.
I have a 2004 Corvette Coupe with 30,000 miles. It is a California
car and has never seen snow or salty roads. I don't even drive it
in the rain. It sleeps mostly in garage and is driven about 1 day a
week on the weekends.
Recently it started making slight grinding noises when making moderate
turns either to the right or left. This happens even when no gas is
applied. I only notice it when turning into a parking spot. If driving
straight there is no sound. Driving down the road I don't here it
either. I tested a radius circle in a parking lot with no brakes applied
and hear it as well so it's not a braking issue.
Can anyone suggest what this might be? My parents on the East
Coast just went though an ordeal with a dealer on their Acura where
they just kept replacing things until their car was "right again" and
they got ripped off for $3000 so I am very weary of dealerships..
Thanks for your help!
Tom
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,660
Likes: 9
From: Charlotte, NC
All that is happening is your differential, which should be sliding past eachother when the inside and outside wheels are turning at different speeds, is catching and hanging up.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 18
Likes: 2
From: Florida
You guys are the best!
There is nothing worse than being at the mercy of the dealership
who will just keep replacing parts at will until the problem stops..
So far the suspects are:
- Differential fluid
- Wheel bearing
I have never changed anything on the car except the oil and new
rear tires since the car has only has 30,000 miles.
I am inclined to believe it is the differential. On the driver side
rear chrome alloy rim, I have noticed a "gook" like build up
inside the rim that seems like dried up grease. Its only on that
that rim.
-Does this sound more like a "Differential fluid" problem now?
-At 30,000 what really needs to be changed? Trans Fluid? (its an auto tran)
-How much should an "Differential fluid" change cost me?
-"Differential fluid", can I do this from under the hood?
Thanks a bunch guys!
There is nothing worse than being at the mercy of the dealership
who will just keep replacing parts at will until the problem stops..
So far the suspects are:
- Differential fluid
- Wheel bearing
I have never changed anything on the car except the oil and new
rear tires since the car has only has 30,000 miles.
I am inclined to believe it is the differential. On the driver side
rear chrome alloy rim, I have noticed a "gook" like build up
inside the rim that seems like dried up grease. Its only on that
that rim.
-Does this sound more like a "Differential fluid" problem now?
-At 30,000 what really needs to be changed? Trans Fluid? (its an auto tran)
-How much should an "Differential fluid" change cost me?
-"Differential fluid", can I do this from under the hood?
Thanks a bunch guys!
Pro
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 719
Likes: 2
From: Columbia South Carolina
Sounds like the LEAKY BUTT to me......................
Do a search on "leaky butt"......................it is possible that the leak has caused enough fluid loss to effect the diff.
I have a slight leak in mine and the Chevy dealer stated $400 to fix.......It's a known problem........
By the way I only have 17,500 miles on my 2000 C5.........It can happen at anytime.....
Do a search on "leaky butt"......................it is possible that the leak has caused enough fluid loss to effect the diff.
I have a slight leak in mine and the Chevy dealer stated $400 to fix.......It's a known problem........
By the way I only have 17,500 miles on my 2000 C5.........It can happen at anytime.....
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Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 276
Likes: 76
From: Florida
It certainly sounds like your rear seal could be leaking, but the "grinding" noise you are hearing is most likely the positraction plates inside the rear differential. I had the same issue with mine at around 35,000 miles and it completely went away after the fluid and limited slip addative was changed.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 3
From: Mesa Arizona
The same noise happened to me. What I did was drain the Diff. and refill with Royal Purple 75-90W synthetic gear fluid. No need for additive, RP already has it.
Still had a slight noise at times so I redrained the Diff. fluid one more time 3 weeks later and refilled again.
Noise Gone!
Still had a slight noise at times so I redrained the Diff. fluid one more time 3 weeks later and refilled again.
Noise Gone!
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 18
Likes: 2
From: Florida
Thanks Guys..
I took it in to the dealer and 4 hours later they had it fixed..
They flushed the differential for $140 and found one of my rear
CV boots was leaking grease. They wanted $335 to put on a new
boot so I talked them down to $400+tax for both services..
Car is 100% quiet now but when I floor it, the acceleration isn't
as smooth as before. Seems like there are some quick pauses as
the auto transmission shifts.. Maybe the differential fluid needs to
work itself in??? What do you think??
I took it in to the dealer and 4 hours later they had it fixed..
They flushed the differential for $140 and found one of my rear
CV boots was leaking grease. They wanted $335 to put on a new
boot so I talked them down to $400+tax for both services..
Car is 100% quiet now but when I floor it, the acceleration isn't
as smooth as before. Seems like there are some quick pauses as
the auto transmission shifts.. Maybe the differential fluid needs to
work itself in??? What do you think??
Tech Contributor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,924
Likes: 78
From: Forney Texas
Wow!
I get my boots replaced for 15 dollars each or 25 for the pair when I take them the shafts (which takes about 30 minutes to remove both sides).
Makes me glad I do my work myself. Too bad you don't live close to me. I could have saved you some $$.
Maybe torque management is involved in your odd shifts. That can be tuned out.
I get my boots replaced for 15 dollars each or 25 for the pair when I take them the shafts (which takes about 30 minutes to remove both sides).
Makes me glad I do my work myself. Too bad you don't live close to me. I could have saved you some $$.
Maybe torque management is involved in your odd shifts. That can be tuned out.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,591
Likes: 2
From: kent ct - "if i'm not in the vette, i damn well better be on the yacht."
St. Jude Donor '13
You would be doing yourself a favor by getting a shop manual... either on disc or the 3 volume set... Then you'd know where the diff fluid is located...along with all the other answers to your queries.. (makes great bathroom reading.
)
And Welcome to the Forum!
) And Welcome to the Forum!