Clanking kinda noise from under the car. It was hard for me to tell but it sounded like it was coming from the cats, is that possible, any other suggestions?

 

your exhaust might be loose down there. check all the hangers.

 

my air hose (from the cat) is connected to a metal tube that used to clank against the headers. it sounded just like your problem. just an idea.

 

While doing what? Driveshafts can clunk.

 

It makes the noise while driving or just idleing. I just noticed it starting today.. I will check all the hangers and hoses.

 

Ok so I check all that I could without jacking up the car, the noise is definatley coming from under the car and from the center of the car. My guess is either the driveshaft or exhaust. It makes the noise with the clutch in or out and driving or idleing.. Any other suggestions?

 

it wouldnt be the drive shaft if it makes the noise when your not moving. dont be lazy jack it up and look for where the exhaust is banging against something under the car

 

If you still have the split air pipe I bet that is what it is, but not from under car but more from where it goes from engine bay to just getting underneat the car, still near the front of the pipe. Mine does the same thing and I am 99% positive that is what it is and that is where it's coming from. It can tend to be sorta lose and move a bit and hit against other stuff.....I would say yank it outta there if you can.

 

how would you know for sure it was a driveshaft clunk, and what would you have to do to fix this.

also, what would cause this??

mike

 

Driveshafts can clunk, mainly on autos, when you put it into Drive or reverse or a gear that makes it move, sorta makes the driveshaft shift just a bit and makes a clunk noise, comes from rear of car and sounds....well...like a *clunk*

 

if you hear a snapping when your hard on the gas its usally the U joints are woren out and in these cars you cant just change u joints you need to change the whole drive shaft

 

I have a GSL-SE with 5 speed.

My clunk happens like this:

1. Drive forward
2. Press clutch in and stop car (with brakes)
3. Put transmission in reverse
4. It clunks!!! From the back end I think.
5. Release clutch and reverse (no noises at this point)

Some background:

I think my pilot bearing and throw out are finished. I plan on changing the clutch nd these parts this summer.

I do notice though that when I have the car jacked up (both rear wheels off the ground), on the LSD when you turn one wheel the other one turns in the same direction. This is normal. Now what I noticed is that I can turn the wheel quite a bit before the "play" or "slack" is taken up in the differential and the driveshaft start turning. I then turn the wheel in the opposite direction and there seems to be quite a bit of play before it starts turning in the opposite direction!

Is this normal to have this much play between the drive wheels and the driveshaft? I'm thinking the preload on the pinion gear in the diff is not properly set. Maybe the collapsable collar is worn?

I'm no expert nor have I work on differentials before so I do not know what is normal. I've always had front wheel drive cars.

My thought is that the clunking is that because of the play in the diff and maybe the bad throwout bearing, that when I press my foot on the clutch, the clutch is still engaged a little and is transfering this movement through the drive shaft and when I move the shifter to reverse, the shaft spins and takes up the play and clunks the pinion gear teeth agaist the other gears????

Boy can I ramble on or what!

Thanks for any advice guys and gals.

Greg Bowie
85 GSl-SE, 232,000 kms and still going strong