I have an 03 Evo with a stock (open) front diff. I've checked all the axles, brakes, and driveshaft. There is a slapping/clacking noise that is audible at low speeds (doesn't matter if I'm in gear or not) coming from the front of the car somewhere, it increases in speed as the vehicle increases speed. The noise goes away when under acceleration but as soon as I let go of the gas you can hear it. There is very little gear whine so I doubt it is the transfer case, but who knows. At highway speeds I cannot hear anything and everything seems normal. When cornering I don't notice anything either. I've dumped the transfercase fluid already (it looked basically brand new) and there was no metal shavings at all on the magnet. I have the car up on four jack stands right now trying to diagnose this problem. Maybe my ring and pinion is done? Kind weird if its the transfer case, since everyone reports hearing a high pitched gear whining noise, but I don't hear anything like that. Any ideas?

 

hey do you have any sort of aftermarket flywheel and when did this noise start and how much did you pay for your a/c delete kit

 

I have an exedy twin plate setup (includes new flywheel). The noise does not happen if I rev the engine up in neutral, only while going forward.

 

couple things to check:

lug nuts, make sure they are tight (obviously)

the little rubber covers for the brake bleeder screws (if they are off and hit the wheel it makes a loud slapping sound... i've seen it myself and didn't believe how loud it was, but it really was it)

CV boots - make sure nothing is in contact with them... such as a brake line. where the band holding the boot on, binds togther, could making a slapping sound if it were touching something. this is more of a rear wheel thing then front.

 

Also would check the tranmission and transfer case mounts, could be bumping into the frame when you first take off also could be the Throw out bearing. There were also some cases( Mine did this) the rear drive shaft u joint would make noise when the clutch grabs. I would get a weird slap or crunch noise from sounded like the front end but accually was the drive shaft echoing.

 

I hate diagnosing clunking and clanking noises. In the past I've had noises come from:

1. Lower control arms (failed on me)
2. The nut on the top of my coilover loosen
3. Brake pads (believe it)
4. Loose lug nuts on wheels

Best thing you can do is isolate where the noise is coming from and carefully look in the particular vicinity. Check and make sure all nuts and bolts are tight ...

 

I one time had a disc dust cover on my breaks rattling on something that took me forever to find. I feel ya man.

 

Thanks for the advice guys! I will have a look this weekend and will post my findings. I hate not knowing what a sound is coming from, it drives me nuts!

 

I've had noises as well ... that have ranged from ...
a) Rear o2 sensor wire hanging down
b) Top strut bolts not tightened down
c) Brake pads
d) Clutch pedal squeak
e) Small plastic fishing net wrapped around my driveshaft!

 

f) Person that I just ran over, err wait.

 

Well I double checked the brakes on all four ends of the car and all suspension components, and even checked for loose plastic wheel well liners, and found nothing. I replaced the transfer case fluid as well but I don't think that attributed to anything. I did notice the rear driver side wheel was torqued on a little loose, maybe that was it. The car makes no clacking sound now. How strange!