Drivetrain 'clunking'. Doh!
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From: Ft Riley, Kansas/Tampa, FL
Drivetrain 'clunking'. Doh!
I'm suspecting the rear diff as the culprit of this, but i wanted to make sure before I fork over the cash for a used diff.
When turning hard at medium to low speed a clunking and popping is heard(and felt). I can also hear the rear tires skidding(as if I had a welded rear diff).
Another possible culprit i read about is the RSB?
When turning hard at medium to low speed a clunking and popping is heard(and felt). I can also hear the rear tires skidding(as if I had a welded rear diff).
Another possible culprit i read about is the RSB?
First try turning off the single-wheel braking help for the AYC by holding the ASC button down for three seconds (if you haven't tried this already). Also, note that the AYC is programmed to do something very strange when you steer sharply at low speeds: it actually send more power to the inside rear wheel. This causes a noticeable clunk if the surface is uneven. I used to get a nasty clunk when turning into an uphill driveway from an uneven road. That went away when my ACD/AYC pump died.
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First try turning off the single-wheel braking help for the AYC by holding the ASC button down for three seconds (if you haven't tried this already). Also, note that the AYC is programmed to do something very strange when you steer sharply at low speeds: it actually send more power to the inside rear wheel. This causes a noticeable clunk if the surface is uneven. I used to get a nasty clunk when turning into an uphill driveway from an uneven road. That went away when my ACD/AYC pump died.
If it were me, I'd next cut the power to the ACD/AYC pump and try again. I would not want to go through the hassle of replacing the rear diff only to learn that it was the AYC, instead.
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Just went out and yanked the AYC PTC relay in the fusebox. It actually seemed to make it worse.
Last edited by FoxFister; Feb 23, 2014 at 11:48 AM.
Can you have a friend watch the car as you drive around him or her in circles? Clunking, etc, could be a variety of things, including the sway-bar, but if tires are skidding then it's more likely the driveline. Again, I'm trying to rule out simpler things than replacing a diff.
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Can you have a friend watch the car as you drive around him or her in circles? Clunking, etc, could be a variety of things, including the sway-bar, but if tires are skidding then it's more likely the driveline. Again, I'm trying to rule out simpler things than replacing a diff.
The driveline of the car has been a nightmare so far.
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Depending on what you do with the car, you might consider anything from dumping the AYC and getting a hard-locking mechanical rear; swapping in a Cusco RS, instead of a new planetary, and keeping the AYC; or getting a new (or repairing the current) planetary.
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Yep. Diff pins is a center-diff issue. But folks that launch hard have been known to chew up rear diffs, too. The ACD locks; lots of the torque ends up in the rear; the rear diff doesn't like it. Remember: the rear diff is a planetary, in order to double the ability of the AYC to reroute torque, and planetaries are often less strong than a four-spider conventional.
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Well, I believe I can now confirm a rear diff failure. I had someone lay underneath the rear while I pulled forward and the whole rear axle seemed to be shifting every time the loud banging is heard. I seem to indeed have all the luck at this point.
Now that is one trusting "friend" you've got there!
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Lol! He was underneath the rear bumper.
I went ahead and drained the rear diff gear oil, and low and behold pieces of gear was stuck to the drain plug. I knew the car was beat on by the previous owner but I didn't think it would be quite this bad.
I went ahead and drained the rear diff gear oil, and low and behold pieces of gear was stuck to the drain plug. I knew the car was beat on by the previous owner but I didn't think it would be quite this bad.


