i'd check the u-joints again ... the first time I did my own, I was not
100 percent sure that I got them squeezed in with all the needle bearings
lined up properly (meaning, if I didn't get it right, that early failure was
likely). I'll never know because I had to sell the car (for unrelated
reasons!).
also, even if you did it right, the U-joints are notorious for failure,
especially on the rear drive shafts.
hopefully, by jacking up one wheel at a time, with engine in gear, and
turning the "free" wheel, you'll be able to hear the clunk before you have
to start disassembling things.
Graham
-----Original Message-----
From: Ryan Miles
To: 6pack@autox.team.net
Sent: 6/11/02 8:57 AM
Subject: rear end clunk?
List,
My TR6 is on its second summer since a complete chassis and
mechanical rebuild. I am begining to notice a clunk coming from the rear
end and I am not sure exactly what the problem is. The car has a fast
road engine in it that at best guess makes ~140 horse at the crankshaft
(The G-tech I have said 135 at the rear wheels). I do not "baby" the
car. Don't get me wrong, I don't abuse it, but I do run it in local SCCA
solo events, and I do enjoy a "spirited" drive.
The clunk is not extremely loud, and it only shows up when you change
the direction of the torque of the driveline (ie. accelerating, then
decellerating, then accelerating again). To expand, If I have the gas
pedal on the floor and I get off as fast as I can, the next time I push
the pedal the rear end will sometimes let out a clunk. The noise is most
consistant if I don't get a downshift perfect right before stopping at a
light or stop sign. If I don't get the down shifts right it will make
the noise as soon as I start to engage the clutch in first gear.
I am a little unsure what parts I should take apart to check out.
The diff mounts were boxed in and reinforced 2 years ago, and the diff
mounting bolts are still tight, with no abvious signs of any cracks. I
also checked all the bolts in the rear suspension, which were all tight.
Could this be a bad U-joint (I replaced them myself, and it was my first
experience with U-joints). I am also curious if it could be worn rear
axles, but when I assembled the car I did check to make sure that the
sliding joints were tight. The UJ's probably have 4,000 miles on them,
and the diff mounts are poly, I don't know if that makes any difference.
I'm not toooo worried yet, because the noise isn't violently loud, but
it has gotten worse now that I have beeen racing the car and I would
like to know whats going on back there.
Thanks for any suggestions,
Ryan Miles
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