Strange clunking sound - suspect diff
 

I have a clunking noise coming from the rear at the same frequency as the drivetrain . It is not loud in a straight line but gets worse when going around a corner (either way).

I Have eliminated wheels / tyres as a possible cause .
The other possible is the CV joints but I'm not sure how a worn CV joint sounds .

I suspect it is the diff but would like to hear from anyone who has had similar symptoms or has blown a diff and can tell me what the symptoms were .

I blew one at 3000 miles. Stop the car and turn the wheel all the way to one side. Start out slowly and see if you get a shuddering out of the wheel on the side your turning towards. Repeat for the other side/direction. If it shudders, tire drags, that's a bad diff.
Another check is to drain your diff fluid. It has a magnetic drain plug. See how much metal is on it. If it's a whole lot, like in a LARGE clump on the drain plug, not just a light coating. That's another sign of excessive wear and or a bad diff.
Another thing would be to jack the car up and grab a half shaft and try and rotate it and slide it side to side, push up and down on either end. Listen for clunking and feel for any excessive play in either direction.

Hope that helps you.

Will do

have tried that - and also compared mine to another 8 . They seemed the same but hard to really tell .
Also put the car on stands and ran it up to 100km/hr but no noise without load .

Thanks for the help

Still have this issue and am not really any closer to solving it .

Pulled one of the 1/2 shafts but no obvious signs of a problem .

Does not shudder with the test mentioned above .

noise gets louder as it warms up

Noise less apparent in a straight line

Very apparent going around a fast corner

on or off the power doesn't matter .


Any other suggestions ?

Check all the suspension bolts.

I had a clunk on mine as well and it turned out to be a loose bolt on one of the suspension arms in the rear.

Edit: Noise gets louder as it warms up? NVM

i have a spare diff.

that is the only thing i have not been screwed about here..

let me know if you need it.. shipping will suck like the oil coolers.. ;) :)(

beers :beer:

/\ That reminds me Swoope - your clutch is in . All is good with that .

I can get a diff locally for around $600 - not too bad . I just don't want to spend that until i'm sure that is the problem .

cool,

i dont fail ! nice to hear that in life..

if i can stuff a diff in a usps box that ships for 70 bucks you win..

but likely no.

but i do have one..

beers :beer:

/\ same noise either way
someone here suggested it may be a brake caliper but it does not seem to change under braking ...

seems to be getting less noisy over time rather than worse and it became apparent at a track day so that might be a clue ....

that is what I thought as well - yet I have not been able to narrow it down yet other than knowing it is not wheels or brake discs . Took a mechanic for a drive and he didn't know either .
All those parts are expensive to replace so I would like to pick the right part if possible .....



for swoope - my new track


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cq9jDkB2iWw

just for the hell of it---- check your PPF adjustment?

Does it make the same sound in reverse while turning?

one cv joint usuall starts out making noise only while turning.

ummmm -bit embarrassing .

It turned out to be my front LH wheelbearing .

:pat:

if it was easy everyone would be rich..

beers :beer: