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Author Topic: Rear end clicking?  (Read 4063 times)

deansweet

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Rear end clicking?
« on: December 08, 2012, 09:12:02 PM »
My 16yr old son just txt'd me letting me know his car is making a 'clicking noise from rear end of car when I push the gas no mater what gear or speed I am going'. The car is a 1991 318is with 360k+ on the odometer.
Figure its the rear differential but wondering what yours guys thoughts and experience on this matter. I did a cursory search and didn't find anything exactly as he described.

I stopped by where it's parked as he is at a hockey game to look under it to see if there was anything visually striking and there isn't a single sign of fluid loss anywhere on the diff. I told him to drive it home as slowly as he could and will check the fluid levels.

Is there a way to check a bad diff? Never worked on one so a little in the dark here.

Should I simply get another rear end or should I rebuild this one?

Thanks in advance.
Dean
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Warsteiner

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Rear end clicking?
« Reply #1 on: December 08, 2012, 09:55:51 PM »
Hang on....before you going buying a rear axle or diff or anything else, you have to check the simple things which cost no $$$. Try checking the exhaust hangars, rear shock bushings up in the trunk, rock or other object stuck in the tire first! Then I would check the center support bearing on the driveshaft and then move to the diff.

Just my .02

Cheers,
~Ralph
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keflaman

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Rear end clicking?
« Reply #2 on: December 08, 2012, 10:16:15 PM »
Quote from: deansweet;118223
My 16yr old son just txt'd me letting me know his car is making a 'clicking noise from rear end of car when I push the gas no mater what gear or speed I am going'.


So it's happening when the drive train/suspension is under load?
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deansweet

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Rear end clicking?
« Reply #3 on: December 09, 2012, 08:34:10 AM »
Quote from: keflaman;118225
So it's happening when the drive train/suspension is under load?


That's what he says but I haven't seen or messed with it yet...

I searched again and going to look at caliper clip as it can create a clicking noise if comes undone and I just swapped out rear brake pads a couple weeks ago. His friend also said it sounds like it is coming from the 'roaders' which I assume means rotors so that could be a possibility.

I'll keep posting what I find.

Thanks for the replies!
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bme30

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Rear end clicking?
« Reply #4 on: December 09, 2012, 08:42:54 AM »
It could be the e-brake clips.. And the noise could be the loose part moving around.

Or it could be the exhaust... As funny as it sounds but when i would accel or have pple in the back i would hear that clicking noise... All gone since i got a new exhaust system and had asked to make it solid
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deansweet

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Rear end clicking?
« Reply #5 on: December 09, 2012, 09:03:35 AM »
Funny you mention this as well bc when I changed out all the pads I had the car on 4-jack stands and when I put it back on the ground and fired it up there was a rattling heard but Tyler said it had since disappeared. A new exhaust could be in order as well.

Wonder if that one in Indiana is still up for sale? :)
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deansweet

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Rear end clicking?
« Reply #6 on: December 09, 2012, 11:55:03 AM »
Took the car for a spin. Sound really ins't a clicking noise. It's more like a popping noise and it doesn't do it in 1st or while you are driving below 10-15mph, once in 2nd it starts up and speeds up depending how hard you are pressing on the throttle. It does it in reverse slightly when going at a somewhat high rate of speed.
Got back home and jacked the car up off the ground.
Spun the wheels while they were on and there is a slight clunking noise when you go from forward to reverse but nothing out of the ordinary. No play in wheels side to side so bearings seem to be ok.  
Brakes checked out fine.
Parking brake is adjusted perfectly.
With wheels off I can tell the drivers side half-shaft has been replaced recently and it has the same amount of play as passenger side so I think I am ok there.
So I check the shock mounts and this is where it gets kind of peculiar. The drivers side makes a popping noise on the top side when I wiggle it and the passenger side is rather solid so remember the sound appears to be coming from passenger side.  Maybe it just echoes? The sound that top mount makes is pretty close to what you hear in the car under throttle.

So next, I will change in to my 'work clothes' and mess with the exhaust to see if there is something awry with that as well.
« Last Edit: December 09, 2012, 11:59:52 AM by deansweet »
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bme30

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Rear end clicking?
« Reply #7 on: December 09, 2012, 12:10:55 PM »
Check the guibo... Thats the rubber bushing that connects the tranny to the driveshaft.

Also check how much play you have in your driveshaft when twisting it by hand in gear.  Should be about a 1/4" or so play
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deansweet

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Rear end clicking?
« Reply #8 on: December 09, 2012, 02:26:26 PM »
Well... Good news is the popping noise is gone.
Problem is could have been one of two things I did to make it go away?
I turned the nut approx half a turn on the top of the rear driver shock mount and wiggling the shock no longer made a sound. I did order a couple new shocks/upper mounts from rockauto.com for $50 as they are looking a bit tired. I also noticed the flange just after the catalytic convertor where the spring are was a tad loose. When I wiggled the pipe it moved quite a bit so that had to of been the cause of the rattling I noticed right after the pad installs.  

The guibo looks brand freaking new?! :)

Thanks all for your suggestions and listening to my banter...
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bme30

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Rear end clicking?
« Reply #9 on: December 09, 2012, 06:58:24 PM »
Np glad it worked out
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keflaman

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Rear end clicking?
« Reply #10 on: December 09, 2012, 06:59:37 PM »
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deansweet

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Rear end clicking?
« Reply #11 on: December 10, 2012, 05:03:59 PM »
To ease your curious nature keflman!
That car looks amazing on the underside for having 360k miles, eh?!

No idea why the attachment won't post right way up...
« Last Edit: December 10, 2012, 05:23:17 PM by deansweet »
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keflaman

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Rear end clicking?
« Reply #12 on: December 10, 2012, 06:38:41 PM »
Thank you very indeed, kind sir!

No problem with the picture...keeps me from craning my neck looking up.
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DesktopDave

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Rear end clicking?
« Reply #13 on: December 10, 2012, 07:19:01 PM »
That view looks oddly familiar...

Did you check the CSB for any play or noise?
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deansweet

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Rear end clicking?
« Reply #14 on: December 11, 2012, 07:56:31 AM »
Quote from: DesktopDave;118270
Did you check the CSB for any play or noise?

Nope, but I will this afternoon when the car is home from school.

He actually told me,'You fixed it! Thanks. You are the greatest dad ever!'  :)
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