Clink in drivetrain?

[andrew4266]

87 944S manual transmission.... I hear and feel a clanking sound when accelerating and decelerating. Would this be the obvious clutch or possibly transmission mounts?

[Dave951]

The clinking could be bad CV joints(if it comes from the back) or a bad clutch disk. I assume your car would have the rubber centered clutch disk and the rubber could have broke. There are some bolts going through some slots so that if the rubber does break, you can still drive a short period of time. To see which one, the following test might work:

Put car in neutral and put the parking brake on(don't let the car actually move during the test). Turn it on and let the clutch pedal come up(this will engage the mainshaft to the engine). Then, rev the engine up and down, trying to lift your foot as fast as possible so that the engine decellerates as fast as possible. If you hear the noise while doing this over and over, it is probably the clutch. If it makes the noise only while the car is in motion, it is probably the CV joints. This problem would probably be due to inner joint wear(where noise from the CVs while turning would be attributed to the outer joints) Good luck. I hope this helps.

Dave

[thamlin000]

My CV joints were replaced a few years ago. My 944s symptoms were and increased frequency in poping sounds from the rear (like those little plastic children's lawnmowers that make popping noises when you push them) as I increased speed, and a decrease in frequency as I slowed down. The RPMs of the engine made no difference in the noise, only the speed at which the wheels spun. If this is similar to what is happening with your car, the CV axles may be bad.

[Dave951]

CVs can make a sound accel/dec. or while turning. It just depends what joint has gone bad. The test I mentioned would isolate whether the sound was caused by the clutch disk or not. When the inner joints of the CV axle goes out, it produces a loud metal clank or clink whenever the throttle is depressed or lifted. If the car only made the noise whil moving and not during my test, the problem would likely lye in the tranny or CVs.

-Dave

[thamlin000]

Dave is correct. Do not rule out CV joints.

[andrew4266]

It only has one clank when I acc. or dec. It is almost as if there is lag in between the two.

[Tentster1]

I met a guy this weekend who is pretty heavily into 944s, Turbo, and NA, presently has a n 86 944T. He stated that when CV's go bad (start clicking), all he does is remove the entire halfshaft, and flip it around, usually the clikcing one is the inner, so, turns it to the outer, he claims it solves the problem, claims he has done it numerous times and that it is an old 944 trick, has done it on his current 100,000 mile 944T, and CV's run smooth. Anyone ever heard of this, mine is presently clicking, I know it is the CV's, I will try it this weekend, hell, what do I have to lose.

[Tentster1]

By the way, this is an extremely simple job, as long as you can get the car totally above ground and under it, atleast in the rear, just remove the (I think 8mm)screws from each side, lower, and flip, apparently they are identical on either side, no need to take about CV's or anything, I hope this works.

[lm6y]

Cool idea Tenster, that just might work to get a few more miles out of them before replacing them. As for the problem stated, it sounds like the clutch is shot.

[Dave951]

Just one clank = clutch disk(most likely). This is a fun job to do if you have the time/tools/place. Good luck.

[RAWXTC]

im having the same exact problem. i havent gone in depth with it yet but could it also be the universal joints in the drive shaft?