So I went to a drift day on Sunday and as I was leaving I heard a clicking sounds (sounded like a torque wrench or a ratchet almost) from the rear of my car. I changed tires at the track, and put the streets on before I left. I disconnected the rear sway bar for the track and put it back before I left. Double checked the torque and all that (I think). I noticed the gold bolt for the rear hub (the one in between all the wheel studs)on the drivers side was loose so I hand tightened it, not really thinking about it. It only really happens when I go over a bump. Smooth roads are fine. Any thoughts or suggesting as to what it could be?

Suspension is:
Tein Flex coilovers
SuperNow Sublink
AWR Camber Adjusters
Everything else is stock

Thanks.

 

get under the car, check everything and make sure nothing's broken

 

Anything I should be looking for? My wheels don't seem off or out of alignment.

 

anything, but especially your sway bar links and other linkages. trans/diff mounts... also check the brakes and wheels, free spin them, see if anything's stuck in them or in the tires.

 

Also check the coilovers. Bolt or nut might have loosened

 

You only hand tightened the very large (22? 23mm?" driveshaft lock nut that holds the rear hub and half shaft together?????? I thought that sucker required two hunderd ft/lbs of torque give or take some.

I must have misread the thread.

Maybe the clicking is the rear spider on the driveshaft gone south. OR a nail in the tire. Or???

 

Maybe I'm replacing my coilover springs in the rear in a few minutes so I'm going to take a look at everything. And I was wondering if it was diff related since it's the original and never had it rebuilt with about 70k miles on it and 4 years of drifting.

 

Well changed the springs and took a look underneath. Didn't see anything, when I was moving the car in and out of my garage I could hear it. Gonna let the springs settle, then adjust the height and go from there.

 

this almost sounds like cv joints.

 

I'll keep all these in mind when I take it in. I don't really have the equipment to get under it and give it a thorough looking over.

 

Yea it does sound like cv joints

 

If it only happens over bumps you should check the front diff mount as well.

 

did you check your exhaust hangers? it could be loose and bouncing.

 

I'm gonna take look at this. Maybe try and tighten it down or see if it's loose.


The exhaust is all in good shape, it's a very distinct clicking noise. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

Got some more opinions, everyone is point to the CV. What parts would I need to replace? Where can I get the parts from?

 

you dont need any equipment to lay under your car and use your eyes and ears

 

Fair enough, but I don't know exactly what I would be looking for.

 

With the mileage/age on your car, you'd want to replace the whole CV axle. It's not hard on FCs. There are 4 bolts that holds the axle to the diff, and the big nut that you've already had experience with behind the rear wheel. You should be able to get a reman axle assembly from any parts store.

While the clicking sound does sound to me like a CV joint, I'd try torquing that nut first, just to make sure everything is tight. Head to advance, ask them to borrow one of their loaner torque wrenches and set that nut at AT LEAST 180 ft/lbs. In the shop we usually torque these things with 1/2 inch impact guns.

 

Yeah I looked them up. They're not super pricey, and it seems pretty straight forward. But I'll take your advise on the nut.



So I finished the height adjustment on the front of my car and looked under the side the sound was coming from. Looked at the CV axel and rear diff mount. Pushed and pulled on some stuff, where the CV meets the diff had a little bit of push pull play and I heard a click similar to what I had heard before, but only once. No real major noises otherwises, and nothing appeared broken.

So I buttoned everything up and torqued the wheels and took the car out. Everything was fine. Took on smooth, bumpy and curvy roads and no real noises. Pulling back in hear a click or two, similar to what I heard before but they weren't as loud and came from the other side of the car. Im wondering if that was the springs just settling, or if I should wiggle that side like I did the other and see if it clicks.

Since the CV joints aren't too bad on the wallet and I want to be safe I might just replace them this week.

 

I would be a little concerned about this. Make sure those 14mm nuts are tight on those axles. Is the output shaft of the differential itself moving? I'm not completely familiar with our rear ends, but I'm assuming there shouldn't be any play in that area, especially not up and down...

 

No no not up and down but like in and out, but I think it was the CV joint boot was loose. And yeah it was the gold bolt that I could undo with my hands. Sourcing a 32mm socket so I can torque it down.

 

Do this first, (do both sides, just to be sure). If the actual differential hub is moving in and out, I'd consider that a problem. There may be a slight amount of play that's considered normal, but an abnormal amount will wear on the bearings and everything else.

 

Did this, the one side the noise came from originally was pretty loose about 3 turns till it was torqued at 180. Other side was tight. Drove it, still got that clicking noise. Came back and double checked the torque, both were tight. Looks like its time for new CVs

 

Agreed. I'd try to get a video of the play you have in the output shaft of the differential while you have the axles out. Post it up here so we can tell if it's something to be worried about.

 

It was literally like not even and inch when I shook the CV end by the diff when I shook it in and out. I can't explain it, well in words. I'm pretty sure it's normal and there was any noise, looseness or other play.