Rear end noise
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 10
Likes: 3
Rear end noise
My 2003 base model automatic convertible with 44000 miles makes a slight clicking noise where the shaft goes into the diff with rear wheels off the ground and in neutral, when you rock the wheel back and forth slightly. Does this sound normal? Tried to add a video, but forum wouldn’t let me. Thanks for any help.
P.S I changed the diff fluid. Have driven it some since then may be helping a little.
P.S I changed the diff fluid. Have driven it some since then may be helping a little.
Last edited by Jdldairy; Dec 11, 2020 at 11:14 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Could either be the half shaft CV joint or the shaft spline is dry where it goes through the rear wheel bearing. Use a stethoscope to pinpoint the location. The shaft spline in the rear bearings are known to do this.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 10
Likes: 3
Would these things you have mentioned make a noise on the road? There is no noise while driving. Only when car is out of gear and up in the air and you rock the wheel back and forth slightly. Thanks for your reply.
Drifting
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,547
Likes: 210
From: Huntersville, NC
The wheels should not rock back and forth. This rocking could be suspension or the wheel bearing. For the wheel bearing, remove the wheel, brake caliper and brake rotor. The bearing hub should turn smoothly and absolutely no play. Then it could be the end link. It connects to the cradle and then to the knuckle with a tie rod end. After that is ball joints.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Frederick Maryland
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12, '14-'15-'16-'17-'18
My 2003 base model automatic convertible with 44000 miles makes a slight clicking noise where the shaft goes into the diff with rear wheels off the ground and in neutral, when you rock the wheel back and forth slightly. Does this sound normal? Tried to add a video, but forum wouldn’t let me. Thanks for any help.
P.S I changed the diff fluid. Have driven it some since then may be helping a little.
P.S I changed the diff fluid. Have driven it some since then may be helping a little.
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Drifting
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,547
Likes: 210
From: Huntersville, NC
Rick of course is correct when rocking is sensed by “rocking” the wheel by rotating it. There is a good bit of drivetrain rotating “slop” in about any car when going from forward rotation to reverse rotation. With the torque tube, and the trans bolted solid to the diff, will take some troubleshooting to sort out the culprit if even a problem.
I read the rocking to be a wheel “wobble” associated with bad wheel bearings or wear in suspension components. I guess the OP’s video would have helped explain what he is seeing.
I read the rocking to be a wheel “wobble” associated with bad wheel bearings or wear in suspension components. I guess the OP’s video would have helped explain what he is seeing.
