clack clack clack from rear?
 

Sitting in the car, still, engine running, shifter in neutral, clutch pedal not depressed, there is a rhthymic clack clack clack from the rear. Sounds like it's coming from the vicinity of the transmission or the torque tube. Not real loud but noticeable.

Goes away when I depress the clutch pedal.

Is this normal transmission noise? Torque tube bearings? The car has 84K miles on it.

Clack? Yikes. Easy first step, drain tranny oil and inspect for debris, then replace with Redline.

Oh, and before removinng the drain plug, make sure you can crack the filler plug.

In my experience on other vehicles, but not necessarily applies to a 944...if the clack goes away when you are in gear or push in the clutch, it could be the clutch cable is loose/out of adjustment. I know that's not at the rear but it may be rattling the shaft.

Interesting. It's not a loud or nasty sound, but ???

I'm not draining the oil and replacing with Redline - I just drained and refilled with Swepco last fall. Very little debris on the magnet at that time.

Also, the clutch is hydraulic, so no clutch cable.

Even if you're not going to replace the fluid, I'd still drain the oil to check for any metal shavings/chips. Do you hear any kind of noise when driving? Also, might check for a bracket that might be loose, allowing something to vibrate at the low rpm of idle.

Sounds like your torque tube bearings are going! 30 years of exhaust heat and sitting kills them! If you dont want to drain your transaxle your not going to want to change the torque tube bearings! Drop transaxle, drop exhaust, drop rear suspension, remove starter, remove torque tube!
Re-build torque tube and replace in reverse order!

14hours later!

As far as bearings replacing there the worst to replace. Havent done
it though I readread a few tech articles how toos on the subject a
few yrs back.

Torque tube bearings!

There are four 6006z or 2z bearings in an iron frame with outer seal.
Easy to fix,but you must remove the tranny,all the exaust sistem,starter,sleave cylinder and the harder:disconect rear breake line and put down a little the entire rear axle(clarence for put out the torque tube)

With the torque tube out i sprayed inside with a soap emulsion to put out easy the bearing assembly.Change in the same time the pilot bearing,posibly do a clutch job and if you want an aluminium flywheel-sublime for this cars!(this engine must to rotate a big flywheel,two very heavy balance shaft and a heavy torque tube).This is good for a tractor deisel!!!