AWD Issue: Sound coming from the rear diff area (Revisited)

[Soular]

Hey gang... I am back again with an issue I posted about some time ago...

Im the kid that has a rattling sound coming from the rear of the car.. sounds almost like chains
dragging or something...

THis happens even if the car is off... meaning that I can free ride with the engine off and
the car out of gear and hear that sound...

I have changed the fluids in the Rear diff in hopes that that would help... It did not...
Let me ask this side question... when I went to change the fluid... I took the bolt out and a
lot of air came out... It made a rushing sould sorta like a whenI take off my gas cap and
you get that vapor rush... The same thing happened in the Rear diff... it that a sign of
something bad going on?

Main Question:

Let me ask this... if one of my inner rear CV Axles is broken... (although the boot looks
fine no rips) would that account for the car seeming to want to pull to one side? Also the
car feels real twitchy like it wants to just slip to one side or another... I would best
describe it like riding on a road that has a crown(sp) to it.. or driving along with one wheel
in a rut/ grove... I hope that makes sense..? The car just twitches as if it wants to change
lanes. This is very random... it just happens ouf of the blue. Let me be clear the twitch is
not big to the point were there is a lost of control... it just feels like for that second I am
not in control...

I know the car needs an alignment... My front tires have warn heavy on the inside(Crazy
front camber I guess) But I don't think a poorly alingned car would twitch and pull like my
car is doing... I could be wrong...

I stop driving the car months ago because I don’t want to jack anything up but on top of
that it just doesn't feel safe at all...

So could this be the result of a broken Rear Inner Axle causing uneven power distribution?

The car is a 95 AWD MT with 109k on it. It has some mods and its riding on 17's
w/Ground Controls and iLL 5-ways as support


Thanks again in advance! Sorry so long but I thought the details were important..
-Chris

 

[tim_korn_99]

Definately replace that broken cv axle... unless your car has a LSD in the rear diff, you aren't even putting power to the ground in the rear. If you do have an LSD, then only the good axle is pulling, so that could be why your car jumps around on the road, but more likely, that has something to do with the alignment. Check your tie rod ends for excessive play in the ball joint.
As for the rattling sound, its hard to tell... It very well could be from that broken cv axle though. I would definately replace that first, then go from there.
check out www.raxles.com for replacement cv axles. make sure you call them and tell them you are from DSMTuners too, because he knocks off the core charge for you, and you just send your old one back when you get the new one.
-Tim

 

[Soular]

Thanks for the reply Tim! I will have to check to see if the rear is broken... I am hoping that is the source of the sound... I do have the factory LSD unit on the car... but I will look into placing an order for new axles... I have a feeling the rear axles on the car of the original OEM units... so they could be almost 10 years old!!

Thanks again!
-Chris

 

[tim_korn_99]

wait a second. i misread your first post. I thought you said that one of your rear axles was broken... my bad. If the cv boots look good, then your axles back there should be alright. Here's a way to check. jack the car up in the air, and turn a back wheel by hand with the tranny in neutral. they should both spin the same way since you have the LSD. Now, put the tranny in like 4th gear, and do the same. They should both turn just a little bit until the tranny stops them. Try to turn each one of them. If you feel the axle slip or pop, then you need to replace it. Also, while the car is in the air, try doing this:
MAKE SURE THE CAR IS STABLE WHILE IN THE AIR!
have someone get in your car, and start it. Then have them put it in 1st gear, and let out on the clutch so that the wheels are turning. just letting it idle should be fine. Now, listen for where that sound you are hearing is coming from.
most importantly, make sure that car isnt going anywhere while you are listening for the sound... i know its probably not the safest thing in the world, but its really the only way i know of to diagnose a sound like that. once you get an idea of where the sound is coming from, post on here and let us know.
-Tim

 

[GritsnGravy]

I had the same problem with my 91 awd talon. It was the inner cv joint. It made a rattling sound from the rear when I drove it. I waited too long to fix it and my drivers side half shaft snaped. Find out which half shaft it is and fix it. The axle will pop out of the diff with a crowbar. Good luck.

 

[Soular]

Thanks guys for the reply!!

I will give this a try... I am hoping that it is the Inner unit...

I did turn by hand when I did the fluid change and I could hear the noise but I was not able to put my ear up to the car to really see it... thanks for the telling me a method to check this out!!

I will put the car on 4 jack stands and give what you said a try Tim!

Thanks for the info Grits! (love the screen name)

-Chris