AWD Driveline "Jockying"? Groan/squeek.. hard to explain!

[PieEyedPiper]

Hey!
My problem is very hard to describe. But I'll give it a shot!
You know when you're rolling in first through a parking lot or in thick traffic? Do you also know that feeling where your car is almost rocking back in forth because you're rapidly switching between the momentum of the car and actual drive from the engine?
Well, if you're still with me , This "jockying" effect has now become much more pronounced as of late and has not only made my vehicle more difficult to drive at low speeds (or need I just become more masterful? ) but now the car kind of groans or sqeeks when it rocks back and forth. It sounds pretty nasty and I'm not sure what can be done about this.

One of my theories is that the springs in the clutch disc are squeeking/groaning from loading and unloading.. But I have zero basis for that thought. Just a stray idea.

Even if you don't know whats up post if you can decipher what I'm asking about!
Thanks!

 

[blackGSX2g]

I doubt that noise would be coming from your clutch as the springs would be unloading during shifting as well. Your theory could be tested by letting the clutch out in 1st gear with the brakes on (to load the springs on the disc).

I'd suspect either your struts or suspension bushings. With the car off and sitting in your driveway, start pushing on all 4 corners and see if it makes the noise.

Can you tell if the noise is coming from the front or the rear?

 

[PieEyedPiper]

I doubt that noise would be coming from your clutch as the springs would be unloading during shifting as well. Your theory could be tested by letting the clutch out in 1st gear with the brakes on (to load the springs on the disc).

I'd suspect either your struts or suspension bushings. With the car off and sitting in your driveway, start pushing on all 4 corners and see if it makes the noise.

Can you tell if the noise is coming from the front or the rear?

I had also considered the suspension, as all 4 shocks are blown (though are mildly functional). But the sound JUST started, whereas the shocks have been in rough shape for months. Also when its happening, and the car is still rocking, the sound stops the second I put in the clutch.
Some more information is an order.
The sound does not happen when the clutch is in (meaning the driveline is disengaged). The sound only happens when I am "jockying" in gear or when engaging/disengaging the clutch in a low gear (1-2). Another important piece I forgot to mention is that this all started in this thread:
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=240067
This noise only started happening when I took off my xfer case, inspected it, changed the fluid to Redline Shockproof and reinstalled the unit.

Don't get me wrong the suspension squeeks too, but its a totally different sound than what I hear 90% of the time I'm driving.
Thanks for chiming in though, I really hope I can get this resolved.

EDIT: the theory about the clutch springs has been "de-bunked".

 

[PieEyedPiper]

Well I went to my new favorite mechanic today to get my Rear Pinion Seal replaced ( http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=242676 ) and I've come back with awesome news.
Firstly I was allowed to be very hands-on throughout the procedure. I loved being "right in the action" so I was already feelin' pretty good about it. It took us about 30min to replace the seal.
Undo the 4 bolts holding the driveshaft to the rear end, hang up the driveshaft, pry off the plate that matches to the driveshaft, undo the 150ft/llbs center bolt, pry out old seal and install new seal. Reverse the intructions to re-assemble and top off the fluid. DONE!

But then for about another hour we just talked and wandered around the underside of my car (up on a lift). I explained to him this nasty sound I was getting (see post #1) and he agreed it was coming from part of the rotating assembly. But upon further inspection we got to talking about how thrashed my motor mounts were ( http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=240067 ). Turns out my rear most mount was not only coming undone from the motor itself but the bolt going through the center of the mount was entirely missing! One thing lead to another and before I knew it we had figured out exactly where this mystery drivetrain noise was coming from. When pressing on the bottom of the tranny with your hands you could easily produce considerable movement and reproduce the mystery sound.
We tightened up the bolt that was coming loose and now the sound has gone away almost completely.

So... yeah! My next mod is going to be inserts for all of my motor mounts and of course a new bolt to replace the one that went missing.

I narrowed down the event that originally lead to the destruction of the mounts and the missing bolt too. When I first got my Spec Stage 2+ clutch it would chatter like mad! My back would literally be sore after driving around cause there was so much shaking and vibration. The vibrations/chatter must have cracked and beat the mounts down and then shaken loose the missing bolt.
Hopefully this info can help someone else! and thanks to everyone who contributed to the threads referenced above.