Rear differential clunk

Big J · 02-14-2015, 02:01 PM

So I have had a clunking noise for some time. Turns out the differential bushings were bad. Replaced them and still have a clunking sound. This video is where the drive shaft is bolted to the rear differential. Does this sound normal?

20150214_133638.mp4 Video by bigj_11_null | Photobucket

BGTV8 · 02-14-2015, 03:44 PM

Search posts by Ugame for thread on rear axle clunk fix

Big J · 02-14-2015, 03:49 PM

I have already checked the rear axles. They were loose and I tightened them. The clunk is still there and is happening between the driveshaft and differential.

Big J · 02-14-2015, 05:23 PM

So I disconnected the drive shaft from the differential. With the car in gear, this is what I am getting where the driveshaft meets the transmission.

20150214_164043_1.mp4 Video by bigj_11_null | Photobucket

Z-Girl 12 · 02-14-2015, 06:28 PM

I have the clunk, hoping it nothing falls off till I can trade her in June. Sub'd

Big J · 02-14-2015, 06:41 PM

Majority of clunk seem to either be the axke nuts just loose of the differential bushing bad. Unfortunately I fixed those 2 and I still have a problem

need4speed255 · 02-14-2015, 09:19 PM

Since you stated that you diconnected the driveshaft from the rear diff the play is now only in the driveshaft u-joint or in the tranny. It is normal for the tranny to make that noise while in gear. You are just seeing the backlash or play in the gear that is selected. The only way to know if it is within spec is to look in the tranny service manual for backlash in each gear. I cant speak on familiarity for the z but I think that is normal.

You may want to check the u-joints in the driveshaft and make sure those don't have much play. I am guessing they are probably good too.

Big J · 02-15-2015, 08:32 PM

I have seen some threads about drive shaft issues. Does anyone know if the u joints can be replaced or will i need to replace drive shaft/get a shop to rebuild it?

BGTV8 · 02-15-2015, 11:10 PM

When we are talk drive shaft, are we talking shaft from gear of gearbox to nose of diff (which is a tail-shaft in my frame of referrence) or half-shaft from flange at side of diff to rear axle upright ... sorry - I am at work can cannot view any of the video's.

UJ in the tail-shaft are sericeable and can be replaced - is not a "big" job and any competent mechanic can do the job.

The half-shaft is not strictly speaking a serviceable part but one of my race-buddies regularly changes the inner and outer CV joint and re-uses the drive-shaft itself as the drive-shaft (in that race application) is lifed at twice the life of a CV joint - repalce the CV joints and next time junk the lot and replace the entire assembly. Disassembly of the CV joint is a bit tedious.

jckilla · 02-16-2015, 04:30 AM

EXACT same noise I had when going from park into reverse. Took it into Nissan, they replaced the ENTIRE driveshaft assembly and rear axle. If you need photos of the work ( labor sheet from Nissan ) , let me know. A week after I bought it back in March (2014) it started happening. Still had powertrain coverage through August so they took care of it. They had it for 4 days. ( 2009 370z Sport/Touring 7AT ) BEFORE I did any mods to it. I'm pretty stoked they gave me that, brand new carbon fiber driveshaft, & rear axle. - I'm guessing new bushings were automatic since they replaced the whole rear axle. Let me know if you need anything ( a labor & parts list of what was done might help you get them to do it for you as well). Good luck. Also my Z only had 22k miles at the time they fixed it.

Limeybastard · 02-24-2015, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jckilla

EXACT same noise I had when going from park into reverse. Took it into Nissan, they replaced the ENTIRE driveshaft assembly and rear axle. If you need photos of the work ( labor sheet from Nissan ) , let me know. A week after I bought it back in March (2014) it started happening. Still had powertrain coverage through August so they took care of it. They had it for 4 days. ( 2009 370z Sport/Touring 7AT ) BEFORE I did any mods to it. I'm pretty stoked they gave me that, brand new carbon fiber driveshaft, & rear axle. - I'm guessing new bushings were automatic since they replaced the whole rear axle. Let me know if you need anything ( a labor & parts list of what was done might help you get them to do it for you as well). Good luck. Also my Z only had 22k miles at the time they fixed it.

I thought the rear subrame axle area would be under the 36Kmiles bumper to bumper coverage and not engine warranty?

Big J · 02-24-2015, 09:40 PM

Update:

Well i have not done much else to the car. It does feel super sketchy while driving down the road and the rear feels pretty loose on minor bumps. I do not know if this and the clunking sound are related. I stiffened the rear shocks(I have koni's) but it did not seem to make much of a difference. I go out of town in a week so when I get back I'm going to start replacing a few other parts, starting with the driveshaft.

As I said earlier, I am not sure if the horrible rear handling is related to the clunking noise, but just curious, would had end links cause a loose rear end feeling? Mine seem in decent shape and can not be moved by hand, if i put a pry bar under them I get a tad of movement but not much at all.

blak max · 01-27-2017, 12:23 PM

I'm also trying to figure out my issue. Heavy vibration at high speed 110+

02-14-2015, 02:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
Big J Track Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Memphis Posts: 905 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 15	Rear differential clunk So I have had a clunking noise for some time. Turns out the differential bushings were bad. Replaced them and still have a clunking sound. This video is where the drive shaft is bolted to the rear differential. Does this sound normal? 20150214_133638.mp4 Video by bigj_11_null \| Photobucket

02-14-2015, 06:28 PM	#5 (permalink)
Z-Girl 12 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Florida Posts: 4,105 Drives: Spirited Rep Power: 11716	I have the clunk, hoping it nothing falls off till I can trade her in June. Sub'd __________________ 2012 Z-SOLD 2014 Nismo #565 Fast Intentions CBE/HFC/Swift/SPC/RJM/H&R-15/20mm/Z1 CAI/Headers/Intake Manifold w/Uprev Tune 328.31whp/263.64tq

02-16-2015, 04:30 AM	#10 (permalink)
jckilla Base Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Arizona Posts: 46 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z TS AT Rep Power: 11	EXACT same noise I had when going from park into reverse. Took it into Nissan, they replaced the ENTIRE driveshaft assembly and rear axle. If you need photos of the work ( labor sheet from Nissan ) , let me know. A week after I bought it back in March (2014) it started happening. Still had powertrain coverage through August so they took care of it. They had it for 4 days. ( 2009 370z Sport/Touring 7AT ) BEFORE I did any mods to it. I'm pretty stoked they gave me that, brand new carbon fiber driveshaft, & rear axle. - I'm guessing new bushings were automatic since they replaced the whole rear axle. Let me know if you need anything ( a labor & parts list of what was done might help you get them to do it for you as well). Good luck. Also my Z only had 22k miles at the time they fixed it. __________________ Stillen G3's - MotorDyne E370z CBE - MotorDyne ART V3 pipes - Z1 ported intake manifold - Z1 (34) row oil cooler - Zspeed V2 undershroud - 318 WHP (dynapack) 260 TQ after UpRev tuning by XactDyno here in Phoenix -

01-27-2017, 12:23 PM	#13 (permalink)
blak max Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: CFL Posts: 476 Drives: Ls swapped 370z Rep Power: 3368	I'm also trying to figure out my issue. Heavy vibration at high speed 110+ __________________ LS 370Z ~ Fueled Racing ~ CSF radiator ~ Vis Racing ~ Braum Racing ~ SPLparts~ Vossen~Odessey Battery

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02-14-2015, 03:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
BGTV8 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: 03350 Australia Posts: 1,503 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z M6 Rep Power: 29907	Search posts by Ugame for thread on rear axle clunk fix

02-14-2015, 03:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
Big J Track Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Memphis Posts: 905 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 15	I have already checked the rear axles. They were loose and I tightened them. The clunk is still there and is happening between the driveshaft and differential.

02-14-2015, 05:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
Big J Track Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Memphis Posts: 905 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 15	So I disconnected the drive shaft from the differential. With the car in gear, this is what I am getting where the driveshaft meets the transmission. 20150214_164043_1.mp4 Video by bigj_11_null \| Photobucket

02-14-2015, 06:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
Big J Track Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Memphis Posts: 905 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 15	Majority of clunk seem to either be the axke nuts just loose of the differential bushing bad. Unfortunately I fixed those 2 and I still have a problem

02-14-2015, 09:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
need4speed255 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Indiana Posts: 262 Drives: 15Nsmo/99 EclipseGST Rep Power: 10	Since you stated that you diconnected the driveshaft from the rear diff the play is now only in the driveshaft u-joint or in the tranny. It is normal for the tranny to make that noise while in gear. You are just seeing the backlash or play in the gear that is selected. The only way to know if it is within spec is to look in the tranny service manual for backlash in each gear. I cant speak on familiarity for the z but I think that is normal. You may want to check the u-joints in the driveshaft and make sure those don't have much play. I am guessing they are probably good too.

02-15-2015, 08:32 PM	#8 (permalink)
Big J Track Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Memphis Posts: 905 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 15	I have seen some threads about drive shaft issues. Does anyone know if the u joints can be replaced or will i need to replace drive shaft/get a shop to rebuild it?

02-15-2015, 11:10 PM	#9 (permalink)
BGTV8 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: 03350 Australia Posts: 1,503 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z M6 Rep Power: 29907	When we are talk drive shaft, are we talking shaft from gear of gearbox to nose of diff (which is a tail-shaft in my frame of referrence) or half-shaft from flange at side of diff to rear axle upright ... sorry - I am at work can cannot view any of the video's. UJ in the tail-shaft are sericeable and can be replaced - is not a "big" job and any competent mechanic can do the job. The half-shaft is not strictly speaking a serviceable part but one of my race-buddies regularly changes the inner and outer CV joint and re-uses the drive-shaft itself as the drive-shaft (in that race application) is lifed at twice the life of a CV joint - repalce the CV joints and next time junk the lot and replace the entire assembly. Disassembly of the CV joint is a bit tedious.

02-24-2015, 09:40 PM	#12 (permalink)
Big J Track Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Memphis Posts: 905 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 15	Update: Well i have not done much else to the car. It does feel super sketchy while driving down the road and the rear feels pretty loose on minor bumps. I do not know if this and the clunking sound are related. I stiffened the rear shocks(I have koni's) but it did not seem to make much of a difference. I go out of town in a week so when I get back I'm going to start replacing a few other parts, starting with the driveshaft. As I said earlier, I am not sure if the horrible rear handling is related to the clunking noise, but just curious, would had end links cause a loose rear end feeling? Mine seem in decent shape and can not be moved by hand, if i put a pry bar under them I get a tad of movement but not much at all.