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thumping, is it an axle?

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mustracetsi

10+ Year Contributor
214
17
Apr 14, 2012
bergen county, New_Jersey
Hello dsmers, just yesterday out of no where I got a thumping noise. Kinda sounds like flat tire. Stop at a valvoline I used to work at just to have look under car and tell me if they something. Noise sounds more on driver side or center. They look and saw my passenger side axle boot broken and bushing on outer tie rod cracked. This my fist awd car. So praying that the replies is going say axle and not something like front diff. All make noise when driving low cruise thumbs but don't even drive on highway cuz last time I did it thumb so fast and alot I thought something was going snap.
I know axle click noise on fwd.
Is axle or the outter tie rod? I know both need be change but going for most important one.first.
Is it something else.
If im standing still in neutral and rev no noise so that leaves motor out but still drive train and steering and suspension.
If I drive put in neutral thumping persist,but if I boost the car thump stumps until im out of
wot. Not doing pulls or or boosting just tested it see if symptoms show under boost.
Any input is greatly appreciated.
Note car is an automatic.
 
If it stops thumping when u turn its prolly the tie rod or another suspension joint loose allowing the wheel to wobble, get the whells n the air and shack the whells side to side and up and down to check for a loose tie rod, ball joint, etc, if it thumps more turning one way than the other its prolly an axle
 
Very good troubleshooting OP

Off the top of my head if the suspect is cv joint, hold wheel all way to the left or right and back up, the noise should be very clear if cv.

Normally though when I hear someone explaining a 'thump' sound I immediately suspect driveshaft carrier bearing. Quick check is hit the pedal all the way to the floor for a sec and listen if the noise is more of a sloppy metallic sound or if it's more of a deep broad thump underneath like running over a deer... or whatever your fast food of choice is.

But then again if the CV boot has been ripped for a long time, the joint very well could be on it's way out the door. Get underneath and twist the shaft, there shouldn't be much, but there will be a small amount of play.
 
Op car is AWD

Forgot to mention for checking driveshaft carrier; hold the brake and stab the gas a few times, maybe have someone watch under car if they can see from side, if driveshaft is hopping under load.
 
I know this sounds stupid but I've personally seen it be an issue, check your lug nuts. Just put the motor back together after replacing the oil pump, head gasket, installing a set of ARP head studs & a few other cosmetic things, after driving around for a while, started hearing a clunking noise, thought it could have been any number of things. Turns out it was loose lug nuts.
 
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