So I have read every post I could find on clunking, popping, binding, etc in the rear end while shifting, speeding up, slowing down etc, etc, etc and I haven't found anything detailing the problem that I have.

When accelerating and then let off (not applying brakes) I get a single "popping" sound and the car will dart to the left and then realign itself. The rear kind of hydroplanes would be the best way to describe what this feels like. I get this same feeling sporadically when gradually accelerating as well but not as violent and sans the popping sound. The car has a very unstable feel to it, and I want to try and rectify this problem before I end up in a wall somewhere.

After reading through all the other posts on rear end issues i know it could be the 6 pillowballs, toe links, diff bushings or anything else I may have missed. From what I described could anyone provide maybe a better idea of what the exact problem could be? It will cost about 750$ to go with the blanket approach and replace everything I just mentioned. I just want to make sure its not a damaged diff or some other problem.

Another note, my car is a 2002 MY FD with only 21,000 miles on it, could these bushings and pillowballs go bad in that amount of time? Another symptom is when making a turn at slow speed 5-10 mph I get a lot of popping and clicking coming from the rear end. I purchased the car used so it could have an aftermarket diff but i have no way of telling.

Thanks!

 

Differential itself, or possibly CV joint damage.

 

Is the noise coming from the front or rear?
Same tires (brand, size, tire depth, wear pattern) all around?

Given the change of direction when letting off the gas and when accelerating, I'd speculate that the toe settings are changing somehow as the car's weight gets redistributed. Check and/or replace the bushings in the toe links.

Also try to rule out loose suspension parts. Download the FSM, put your car up on jack stands and break out your favorite torque wrench and make sure the bolts on the suspension arms are torqued/tightened to spec.

It is possible but not likely that you need to change everything. The toe bushings are wear items. The diff bushings are wear items in the sense that they are liquid filled and will eventually leak. When they leak, they look a little oily around the bushing. Do a visual inspection.


That sounds odd. I'd try and post a video of that.

 

Sounds like a diff bushing is bad.

 

Almost positive the noise is from the rear.

Staggered setup, 235's F 265's R
Rears could use a change and are a different brand L to R. (hmmm, forgot about that, could that cause such a drastic reaction?)

Just replaced a leaky axle seal on the diff, hard to tell if the diff mount/s are leaking as well. Need to degrease the whole area still.

I will mount the Gopro and try to get a vid of the slow speed turning, any particular angle to show?

Thanks!


One another note, just changed diff fluid. There were shavings on the plug, none big and from my experience nothing to alarming. Normal wear and tear looks like

 

could it be you have a 2way diff installed before your purchase, mainly used in drifting? They can act like this.