Drive train clunk?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 639
Likes: 28
From: South Eastern MI Michigan
Drive train clunk?
I have an 09 C6 with14k miles and I am noticing a slight metalic "clunk" noise from the drive train. It happens when the drive train goes from an "unloaded to loaded" state. Not a major noise and I am not sure if I am concerned or not.
It has an automatic transmission.
The vehicle is not driven hard.
Sounds like there could be a minor amount of "slop" in the drive train.
Anyone else notice this?
It has an automatic transmission.
The vehicle is not driven hard.
Sounds like there could be a minor amount of "slop" in the drive train.
Anyone else notice this?
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,446
Likes: 314
From: Tarpon Springs FL
FL Events Coordinator
You might have a loose axle nut....use the search function to find numerous threads on the subject. Jack up the rear of the car....remove the tires.....use a 33 mm socket and check to see if the nut is loose. Depending on how loose you can either tighten it up(thats what I did) and see if that solves your problem and monitor it...or bring it into the dealer for repair. There was a TSB on it and if you are still in the warranty period it will cover it. Good Luck
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 16,025
Likes: 1,656
From: Toronto, Canada
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
I have an 09 C6 with14k miles and I am noticing a slight metalic "clunk" noise from the drive train. It happens when the drive train goes from an "unloaded to loaded" state. Not a major noise and I am not sure if I am concerned or not.
It has an automatic transmission.
The vehicle is not driven hard.
Sounds like there could be a minor amount of "slop" in the drive train.
Anyone else notice this?
It has an automatic transmission.
The vehicle is not driven hard.
Sounds like there could be a minor amount of "slop" in the drive train.
Anyone else notice this?
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,075
Likes: 6
From: Wilmington NC
I had the same sound and it was just fixed by the dealer. It was loose axle nuts. Incidentally, even though GM has a TSB on this issue, it is only covered under the original power train warranty and not covered under the extended warranty. The loctite used was just as expensive as the nuts ($28).
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 175
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa
I has the same on my '08 Z, local dealer gave me the replacement nuts under good (TSB, but out of warranty) will as long as I returned the old ones. I did the TSB myself, took 5 mins.
Just don't keep re-tightening the old nuts. The most difficult part was finding the proper size socket
Just don't keep re-tightening the old nuts. The most difficult part was finding the proper size socket
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,617
Likes: 205
From: Westerville Ohio
Hmm...I was always under the impression that this was part of having a transaxle with the torque tube. On the C5, they even stated and the new owners DVD that it was normal to hear the sound as this just the drivetrain initially taking slack up.
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Racer
Joined: May 2013
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I have an 09 C6 with14k miles and I am noticing a slight metalic "clunk" noise from the drive train. It happens when the drive train goes from an "unloaded to loaded" state. Not a major noise and I am not sure if I am concerned or not.
It has an automatic transmission.
The vehicle is not driven hard.
Sounds like there could be a minor amount of "slop" in the drive train.
Anyone else notice this?
It has an automatic transmission.
The vehicle is not driven hard.
Sounds like there could be a minor amount of "slop" in the drive train.
Anyone else notice this?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,694
Likes: 106
ALL vehicles have drivetrain lash; some more than others. But it's a necessary evil for gears to engage and disengage properly. The lash is most evident with the driven wheels on the air, be it a car or motorcycle. You can move the wheels back and forth like an inch, and hear the 'clunk clunk' as you do that. Perfectly normal. It's a lot more evident (clunkier) on manual cars, but only noticeable at slow speeds. So don't worry, and enjoy your car 
.
.
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Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,075
Likes: 6
From: Wilmington NC
I agree that it is normal to have some driveline lash but if replacing and tightening the axle nuts fixed the clunk noise I was getting, it was not normal unless you say having axle nuts not torqued properly is normal.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,694
Likes: 106
... which wouldn't be normal, obviously. I just said some is normal. Hard to diagnose the OP's issue over the internet 
.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 639
Likes: 28
From: South Eastern MI Michigan
Stupid question.
How many axle nuts are there?
How much do they cost?
Where are they located?
Some say you need to remove the rear wheels, is this true?
What is the torque spec?
How much do they cost?
Where are they located?
Some say you need to remove the rear wheels, is this true?
What is the torque spec?
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,075
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From: Wilmington NC
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...bly-plant.html
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,339
Likes: 1
From: Lake Delton (WI Dells) WI
Just replaced mine myself a week or two ago. The axle nuts themselves are part number: 10257766 and cost me $4.80ea. There are two of them. The 36ml of Loctite 272 cost me $25. It was a piece of cake. My drivers side was tight but my passengers side was on the loose side.
Tech Contributor
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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
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