As near as I can tell from the threads, this is one of two things, pillowballs or rear end differential bushings... Can someone give me some pointers on diagnosing this?


The chasis has high miles > 150K - touring ed. - auto tranny

No clunks at low speeds. Seems to clunk occasionally though backing out of the driveway.

I can get it to repeat crusing above 50 mph. If I give it a little gas and let off, I can hear it every time. I am not sure if this is a bonafide clunk, since I have never owned another FD to compare to. It is kind of like a jerk as if the drive train had too much slack in it. It bumps on both the accel and decel, right at the start.

I don't think it does it at high speeds though...say 80 mph..


I also can't say that it is spongey in the rear. It seems to drive just fine, but again this car is so much better than anyting I have ever driven, it could be crap and I wouldn't know for sure....

If it were the pillowballs, can you tell by looking at them when jacking up the car?

 

if its throttle-based and not so much bumpers... i would be tempted to think it could be the differential mounts... but then, i probably don't know what i'm saying (*** from my elbow type of thing) so here's a bump for ya to see what the guru's think (try posting in the suspenion section of the forum too... if this doesn't get moved there for you.)

 

sounds like the usual rear end bushing wear. I replaced all of my bushings when i had the engine out, car is nice a quiet now, or at least I cant hear over my strait exhaust and apexi gt ..lol

 

Yeah, I installed a downpipe, midpipe and Hi-power exhaust and my rear suspension clunk went away, lol.

 

That was probably your muffler hanger tapping on your tow hook.

Dave

 

yeah ill bet that clunk are your diff mount bushings for sure. i just replaced mine sunday, i couldnt believe how bad they were. i could move the whole diff a good inch just with my hands. the drivetrain felt tight again with no bucking on and off the throttle. it also got rid of some noise from the back but not all of them. new pillowballs should cure the rest.

 

what about the pillow ball bushings? is it noticable when you back up? If so, give Ray at Malloy a call. there's a GB on pillow ball bushings that ends this month

 

To check bushings you can jack the rear of the car up and from the side its coming from wiggle the wheels assembly back and forth. Usualy it is the trailing link pillowballs that go first.

 

My old T2 did that. Bad.

I had the rear diff mount and pinion gear seal replaced (cause it was leaking at the time) and it did it no more.

:]

 

When the car is tight, can anyone describe briefly what it is like if you vary the throttle at highway speeds? Is the transition smooth when you let off?

 

its like any other car that is tight when you vary throttle, should be seemless, no bouncing diff, no (or less) noises from the drivetrain, no slop in the rear end. feels real sold and predictable. i sort of had the same experience not driving another 7 before I purchased mine so I didnt know how bad the diff bushings were either. however ive drivin enough cars to know when bushings are going bad. to get that tight feeling from my FD again, I replaced the diff bushings, toe links and trailing arms.

 

Is it difficult to install the rear differential pinion gear seal yourself?

Local rotary shop is trying to scare me by pointing out torque specs..

And?

If it's just a matter of torquing it down right...anyone can still do that.

Is it difficult to do yourself?

I've been searching for info on it, and that's why I am replying to this older thread. Can someone link me to a write-up on this, perhaps?

 

Factory Service Manual.

You've been here long enough to know where to find it.

Dave

 

*cough*

>_>