clanking noise from rear

DCred911SC · 05-30-2006, 05:23 AM

Can anyone help out here.

I have a strange sort of clanking / creaking / banging noise coming from the passenger rear wheel area of my 82SC (right hand drive). Last year, the suspension was disturbed because the opposite side torsion bars snapped and hence I replaced both. Due to a problem with the supply of the torsion bars (I wanted 26mm ones but apparantly there were no LH ones available in the UK) the car was laid up for about 3 months before the new ones (standard) were fitted, and then the car went to bodyshop for a bit of restoration and re-painting. To cut along story short, I've now got it back and have this noise which wasn't there previously. The noise speeds up / slows down with road speed. It is not dependant upon engine speed, however it does cease when accelerating. With the car jacked up, there is no noise when rotating the wheel, however when the car is on the floor, I can rotate the road wheel by hand (thus moving the car), and get a loud metallic ping / clank as the wheel turns. It sounds like someone hitting the radius arm with a hammer, and I can even feel it through the wheel.

Within the last 2000 miles, both rear wheel bearings have been replaced, and also the CV's, although I do have a slight rock on the wheel at 12-6 o'clock.

The only thing that I can think of is that the rear suspension geometry is out, as it has not been re-aligned yet following the torsion bars replacement. Could it be so far out that the alignment of the wheels / tyres are causing this noise?

Any help would be most appreciated

Thanks

David

Miguel Antonett · 05-30-2006, 05:28 AM

Yes, it could be that bad off alignment after the torsion bars replacement; however need to check the sway bar bushings, absorbers torque and CV's once more.

Quicksilver · 05-30-2006, 05:45 AM

Can't see how an alignment would cause it to do anything other then wear tires. Obviously it needs to be done but you have a mechanical problem not an adjustment problem. Is it possible that some of the suspension is loose? The popping back and forth of a loose suspension joint seems very unlikely but possible.

After reading your post a couple times I noticed it says that the CVs and wheel bearings were replaced in the last 2000 miles. Was that after this problem cropped up?

The rocking of the wheel at 12 and 6 makes me think that something is wrong with the wheel bearing. Perhaps it wasn't pressed in correctly or the bore it seats in is damaged. It seems like the most likely culprit.

Tut · 05-30-2006, 06:05 AM

Did you re-torque the bolts on the CV joints a couple of hundred miles after the new CV joints were installed?

DCred911SC · 05-30-2006, 06:30 AM

thanks for the responses so far. I also find it hard see how an out of alignment problem would cause it either, but it's the only thing that's changed since the 'T' bar replacement.

The bearings and CV's were changed about 3 years back (not many miles done since then !) and up to the T bar snapping everything was fine. I haven't re-checked the CV's for tightness but I will do. Also with regard to the bearing play, there is about the same level of play on the other wheel, but in all honesty I can't remember what the play was when they were first installed. I changed the bearings myself and what I can remember is that all housings and shafts were in good shape, and the bearing was a nice tight fit into the housing.

Thanks

David

bigchillcar · bigchillcar's Garage

particular noise sounds like bearings or cv's..

GothingNC · 05-30-2006, 08:25 AM

I would check the CV bolt torque before the axle falls out.

Mine was making a similar noise and I fund out the hard way what was causing it.

DCred911SC · 06-01-2006, 01:11 AM

Thanks for the replies, I've now sorted it. It was a loose wheel spacer. 3 of the 5 nuts which attach the spacer to the hub were not tight. Don't know why this was because I haven't had them off, I need to quiz the bodyshop who did the re-paint because I know that they had the wheels off.

Just for peace of mind I checked the CV bolts and they were still tight. Can't believe that something so simple could cause so much noise, but there you go...always full of surprises

David

bigchillcar · bigchillcar's Garage

david..glad to hear that you got to the bottom of that mystery..sherlock holmes would be proud..

ryan

Miguel Antonett · 06-01-2006, 04:56 AM

Good for you!

Now is time to enjoy the car fully.

DCred911SC · 06-01-2006, 05:12 AM

Couldn't agree more, but it's not over yet !. Backed out the garage this morning with a trail of oil following me. Damned oil line from the tank to the thermostat has rotted though just under the clamp which attaches it to the body.

Oh well, another couple of hours under the back wheel arch won't make any difference considering the amount of time I've already been in there.

David

dickster · 06-01-2006, 05:57 AM

Well, at least it went whilst in the garage!

bigchillcar · bigchillcar's Garage

yeah, much better to find that before you ran dry of oil on the road!
ryan