Clicking sound during acceleration and deceleration

Majin325 · 10-03-2012, 06:48 PM

I wrote a little about this a while back when I noticed a clicking sound during acceleration. The sound had gone away until recently and now it is occuring with both acceleration and deceleration. The sound is a lot louder and occurs more frequently. The sound doesnt seem to be speed related and the lower gear I am in the louder the click is. It kind of sounds like it is coming from the rear of the car. I notice it starts to happen after changing gears and hearing the trans make sound upon entering a new gear. I'm clueless as to what the cause is because when the clicking sound is present I notice the rear end vibrates during higher speeds and shakes when at low rpms in 5th.

Gawernator · Gawernator's Garage

Could it be the CV axles clicking?

acorad · 10-03-2012, 07:37 PM

CV joints.

Majin325 · 10-03-2012, 08:49 PM

I suspect it might be the drivers side cv axle since the passenger side was replaced about 6 years ago. The boots look fine on both sides. Now if it were the clutch the sound would always be there right? Besides that what other things would cause the sound to come and go.

Gawernator · Gawernator's Garage

The way you describe it seems exactly like CV joints. Clicking sound. Not sure what else would make that in the rear. I don't think the wheel bearings would click. Clutch is in the front of the car.

gtroth · 10-03-2012, 09:20 PM

What do you mean by 'clicking sound'? A single 'clang' when accelerating or decelerating or engaging a gear?
That would be clutch rubber center has failed.

Majin325 · 03:42 AM

It's not a single clang. It only happens with clutch engaged and car is accelerating or decelerating. If the car is moving at a constant speed with no load or under heavy load the sound is not there. Sitting neutral with clutch engaged and reving engine there is no sound. The sound is definitely loud like metal making contact.

Edit: The sound is coming from the rear and is speed related. I'm going to pick up a cv axle this week for the drivers side. From looking underneath will I have enough room with the exhaust still on or does it need to be removed?

gtroth · 10-04-2012, 04:45 AM

Left side is consistent with typical CV failure (that axle goes first probably because of the exhaust heat). You have a rhythmic click-click-click? Loud metal to metal sound you describe doesn't really fit the description of when my left axle failed, but who knows. Do you get a click/clang when you first shift the car into first with the clutch pedal pressed?

Majin325 · 10-04-2012, 06:42 PM

The click is rythmatic when it is there.

looneybin · 10-11-2012, 10:54 AM

+1 on CV joints
re-grease them and swap left side for right side

thekidd · 10-11-2012, 03:44 PM

^+1. Agreed with the post above. No need to buy anything new, except some grease for the CV joints, and maybee new bolts. There is a good write up on clarksgarage.com on how to change them out, and also on YouTube (I think he's changing 914 CVs, but the same method). Very easy job, but pretty messy.