Source of clung - help required

[ckmaggie]

After going over some railroad tracks the other week my car developed a "clung" which I assumed was the cv joints finally going bad. I have since replaced the joints but the sound remains. It has been hard to isolate if it is coming from rear or front. In fact sometimes seems like it is under the passenger seat.

Have also checked sway bar mounts and all seem entact.

The clung is directly related to speed of car. I can hear it at very low speeds and it quickens as I accelerate.

Thoughts are appreciated.
Chris

[ckmaggie]

Bump - looking for some insight soon. I guess folks are enjoying Easter gatherings.

[jester911]

A few more details may be needed. Is the noise only present when the car is in motion?

If so you might try isolating it by taking the car out of gear while driving and let engine go to idle so as to hear the sound more clearly.

[ckmaggie]

Yes, only when the car is in motion. When either in or out of gear. Almost like something is on my tire and as I move faster, it increase too.

[jester911]

Desribe the sound a little better. Is it a clanging sound like metal against metal?

[ckmaggie]

no metal sound. more of a dull thud (clunk). Like "thump, thump, thump". I can feel the vibration too. As I said before, feels like it is coming from passenger seat. But very hard to tell for sure.

[jester911]

Could be just a tire our of balance. Make sure you don't have any foriegn objects in your tires.

[Joe Bob]

Done any hard braking lately? Could be a flat spotted tire...

[silverc4s]

How about a bubble on the inside sidewall of one of the rear tires? May have happened when you hit those rough tracks...

[ckmaggie]

tires seem ok. could flat spot or bubble be noticable upon visual inspection?

[jester911]

If a bubble is on the inside wall of the tire it would be hard to see.

If you think it is on the passenger side it might be worth the effort to remove both wheels on that side and inspect everything thoroughly.

[ckmaggie]

I am ruling out anything mechanical. Car runs absolutley fine when up to speed; no metal noise; strange handling, etc. I am thinking it is a flat spot. I have done some hard breaking of recent and I did see what looked like shaved rubber bits on one rear tire.

Question now is can I drive on it like this. Don't really want to buy new tires right now.

I had the car out and sensation goes away at 40 + mph. Only really notice when I am in first or second gear, going slow.

Thanks for all input thus far.
Chris

[Joe Bob]

Naw...it will just drive ya nuts.....are they Dunlop's by any chance? My SC hated those things....

[cyprusx]

Sway bar mount?

[jester911]

Well it is simple then. Just don't let get below 40

[ckmaggie]

They are Dunlop SP 8000's. They have 12k on them.

I agree that it will drive me nuts but I'll have to deal until I get new tires.

The sway bar mounts appear fine.

Chris

[no substitute]

I liked the 8000s but the 750s are better.

Noise speeds up as the car does. Jack it up and rotate the wheels by hand. Loose railroad tracks can raise up as you cross them and damage an under carriage pretty good.