I hate unknown noises...

ridered777 · #1 01-23-2009, 02:43 PM

Help Toms!!

Haha. I have a noise coming from the front end of the car, sounds drive-line related.

First, how I believe it happened. I was in a cobblestone intersection going straight, and got cut-off bad. Bad enough to get the ABS to kick in. I heard a thump from what seemed to be the top-hat on the passenger side.

Since then my car has been making a noise when rolling. It doesn't do it any worse when accelerating, nor does it go away when braking. It's certainly speed related, as it gets faster and louder at higher speeds, regardless of engine load.

It sounds like a ticking. A little deeper than a lifter tick actually. The best way I can think of describing it is when you were a child, if you ever put playing cards in the spokes of your bicycle... this sounds VERY similar. Comes from what seems to be front passenger side of vehicle. Turning in either direction doesn't seem to change the intensity or duration.

I have been underneath the car looking around. My first guess was a loose tie-rod, as its definitely a vibration. I've looked around, and moved everything hoping to find something loose. But no luck. I just wish I could get under the car while it's moving...

Any idea's guys? I've checked tie-rod connections, sway bar connections, CV axles, and a-arm bushings. I'm at a loss. She's my DD, and my only car, so I gotta get this figured out. I have work on Sunday.

-Craig

kwren · #2 01-23-2009, 02:53 PM

Maybe get it on jackstands and turn each individual wheel?
Keith

ridered777 · #3 01-23-2009, 04:14 PM

I could try it... problem is I can't really get it on stands unless I take it somewhere, my entire driveway has quite the slope to it. I can only get one wheel up at a time on a jack.

I'll see if I can find somewhere/someone with stands tomorrow.

Wikedjuggalo · #4 01-23-2009, 04:35 PM

Would you describe the sound as a baseball card hitting a bicycle wheel?

log1call · #5 01-23-2009, 04:40 PM

I don't suppose it could be a wheel trim could it?
I have found some funny noises coming out fo them before after the car has had a bump. Pull them off and test it.
Might as well do the simple things first.

benebob · #6 01-23-2009, 05:26 PM

Sounds like you're low on blinker fluid

.

So the tick is a constant speed and noise is what you're saying regardless of speed. Is it there in reverse? Is it there when idling?

aust92pearl · #7 01-23-2009, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benebob

Sounds like you're low on blinker fluid

haha lol i ran out of blinker fluid can i use brake light oil or antenna syrup?

ridered777 · #8 01-24-2009, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by log1call

I don't suppose it could be a wheel trim could it?
I have found some funny noises coming out fo them before after the car has had a bump. Pull them off and test it.
Might as well do the simple things first.

Actually on that side, the wheel well plastic did come out earlier and got caught on the wheel. This was the first thing I checked - the zip-ties are holding strong!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wikedjuggalo

Would you describe the sound as a baseball card hitting a bicycle wheel?

Kind of... but we used to put normal playing cards in our spokes and it was a little closer to that because it's not constant... as in, if it was rubbing a tire, it would be a constant whir, where as this is "tick.Tick.Tick" etc. Very fast when going 45+ and considerably slower at 10MPH.

Quote:

Originally Posted by benebob

Sounds like you're low on blinker fluid

.

So the tick is a constant speed and noise is what you're saying regardless of speed. Is it there in reverse? Is it there when idling?

Quote:

Originally Posted by aust92pearl

haha lol i ran out of blinker fluid can i use brake light oil or antenna syrup?

Blinker fluid?! I thought the transmission was on backwards and I was out of headlight fluid! No wonder I'm confused!

I do not notice it in reverse, but I haven't driven down the street checking it either.

I'll let you know.

It does not do it idling, nor does it do it when I just free rev it.

I'm still stumped.

And on top of it all, I have a pretty bad cold/ I think it's a 24hr virus. Because I woke up with it, and my friend had a similar cold but a few days ago...

Wikedjuggalo · #9 01-24-2009, 09:39 AM

Sir I believe, of course could be wrong, your front diff is on its way out. Mine had that same noise right before it went out. The ticking only occurs when moving? Sorry to bring bad news.

ridered777 · #10 01-24-2009, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wikedjuggalo

Sir I believe, of course could be wrong, your front diff is on its way out. Mine had that same noise right before it went out. The ticking only occurs when moving? Sorry to bring bad news.

Yes, it does only do it when moving.

Oh man that sucks. How was the noise compared to a CV axle? Because this doesn't sound anything like the "grinding" of a CV, and I would imagine a diff going out, being metal on metal, would sound like a CV in a way.

This sound sounds more like plastic on metal, as said, with the playing cards... Yes I know playing cards are paper, not plastic.

If the Diff IS going out, is there a way for me to check it/verify it? I don't know much about diff failure... is it going to make noise for a while, then the car won't move? Or will it just get noisier and noisier till I change it?

I am planning the 5spd swap for a few months down the road... but I've been saying that for a year.

Wikedjuggalo · #11 01-24-2009, 11:25 AM

That is the sound mine made right before the teetrh started the break. I called.OT. And him YT confired before the teeth sheared it was my front diff. The noise could only be heard when in gear not in nuetral. Only when the car is moving. You will know when it goes there will be a horrible clunk and you will know

ridered777 · #12 01-24-2009, 04:31 PM

Aw man, not good.

Anyone else able to weigh in on the failure process of this? Is it catastrophic, ie, I'm stranded somewhere, or does the noise just get so bad it's not bearable?

redlightningsvx · #13 01-24-2009, 04:43 PM

I have a clicking noise but it's my front axles

TomsSVX · #14 01-24-2009, 04:51 PM

check your front diff oil... Also think about draining the front diff oil to see if there are any signs of excessive metal shavings...

The sound is the pinion beaing (if it is the front diff). Basically more often than not this is all caused by two possible things.

- The diff was run dry (out of oil)
- The pinion seals that seal the transmission fluid from the diff fluid are leaking and allowing ATF to get into the gear oil and overfill the diff as well as exposed the front diff to a lower viscosity oil and increase wear.

Check your axles first though

Tom

log1call · #15 01-24-2009, 06:25 PM

Well no despite the symptoms, the circumstances wouldn't suggest out of oil or broken diff in my opinion.

I'd be looking for something that could have been caused by hard braking.... and that isn't broken teeth. Have you had the wheels off and checked there isn't anything rubbing against the brake rotor's cooling fins?

"sounds more like plastic on metal"... something in the wheel trim?