Intermittent clicking sound from rear.. Help

[Lance]

I have not long had my 944s but recently there is a loud knocking / tapping sound from the rear, only happens when car done about 10 miles and is intermittent comes and goes, gets faster with speed etc does it on or off throttle but not coasting ie neutral, I would have put money on it being cv joint ( familiar sound) and I jacked the car up and found 2 cv bolts loose! On same joint so tightened them up thinking that must be it but today after a few miles the noise is back!...could it still be a cv joint? Could it be damaged now it ran with 2 bolts loose? Any help advise

 

[jasonp]

ORIGINAL: Lance

I have not long had my 944s but recently there is a loud knocking / tapping sound from the rear, only happens when car done about 10 miles and is intermittent comes and goes, gets faster with speed etc does it on or off throttle but not coasting ie neutral, I would have put money on it being cv joint ( familiar sound) and I jacked the car up and found 2 cv bolts loose! On same joint so tightened them up thinking that must be it but today after a few miles the noise is back!...could it still be a cv joint? Could it be damaged now it ran with 2 bolts loose? Any help advise

lance,,i experienced the same sort of thing ,i dont do any of my own spannering so i dont know if it helps but mine was diagnosed as drop link and a new one was fitted,,good luck

 

[Hairyarse]

Hi Lance.

Based on my inner offside CV joint going recently with same symptoms I'd guess that's your problem. Was it the inner CV joint with the bolts loose?

 

[Lance]

Hi no it was the outer cv joint, why would a drop link make that noise? Where is it situated, I'm new to 944 ownership so just getting familiar thanks

 

[Lance]

The sound is a knocking noise, sounds external ie not gearbox or bell housing clutch feels fine and engages gears no problem

 

[bmnelsc]

IMHO either answer here are possible. For a drop link - I would expect to get the noise when the suspension is moving i.e.: going over a bump (need not be a very large bump) or when getting on the gas or lifting off. These situations cause weight transfer and if your drop link bushes are gone - you would be suddenly taking up slack and thereby getting a noise when the metal drop link bush retainers clank around on the mounts. CV joint I would expect to make noise when the joint is loaded - i.e.: accelerating or decelerating under engine load. The cv may not make any noise when coasting with no load - e.g. coasting with clutch in. Cv joints are also known to make a growling noise when they are getting worn out but this seems to be easier to hear on front wheel drives.

Drop link bushes are easy to check visually - if they are bad enough to make noise it should be pretty obvious. CV you could try to feel for play in the joint while installed (need to crawl under and check while the car is on the ground so the joints are in normal operating position) but more likely you'll need to remove them and clean out the old grease for a proper inspection.

 

[Veerzigzag]

I had the same symptoms and it turned out to be a handbrake shoe problem. They can come loose / retaining spring breaks etc. In my case one shoe had discarded its lining. It did sound surprisingly like a duff CV joint, so it might be worth having a quick look at the shoes.

 

[Lance]

Thanks for your reply much appreciated the noise is only under load or of gas not with clutch engaged, it also only does it after the car has been driven for about ten miles or so I would imagine the drop link would make this noise regardless of the car being cold or warm but will take your advice and check drop links ( where are they?) just seems odd that 2 bolts were hand loose on one cv both rubber boots are intact and seems to be no play...mmmmm