I've had my '06 IX MR for 3 weeks and it has 610 miles. To get it over the 600 mile mark tonight I put 60 miles on it and noticed when I was almost home a very loud popping from the front or center diff. It sounded just like a completely worn out CV joint. I found this thread saying this is exactly what a broken front diff sounds like:

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...ont+diff+noise

I can't imagine the front diff is really busted since the car is so new and I haven't launched it once (been breaking it in just like the manual outlines). My car made this noise at this level once before and there again it was after driving the car for about an hour or so. Is there something goofy with the fluids getting hot? I don't want to take it the local dealer if I don't have to as they're on the other side of town so it'd be a really long round trip...at least twice.

Any thoughts?

 

While I'm a newb or noob to "Evoland" I would consider taking it in to the dealer and have them check it out. If anything for peace of mind. A brand new car should not be making noises. Have you done a visual inspection? I have had rocks stuck in weird places and make noises although not quite the cv joint sound you think you have. Is the sound more pronounced while turning? Turning places more stress on one side or the the other and can help in diagnosing bearing,joint and sometimes even diff issues. Once again I am no Evo expert...

Good Luck

 

Could it be soem loose suspension componenents? that could make some sort of noise or clicking sounds if thats what you hear. Hope that helps and good luck

 

sounds like the clunk/poping noise that plagues the evo's.

in any case, my front diff just broke about 3 weeks ago. it was soo bad, that when i make a slow hard left/right turn, the tires would skid and the car was struggling to move. its the same feeling when you have your hand brake slightly engaged.

no one has found a real solution to this poping noise, however, some believe that it could be the top coil of the spring hitting the next coil (or something like that). they have removed the spring, and insulated the top and bottom coil with a rubber hose.

The problem with that issue is that, when you take it the dealer, they will have a difficult time recreating the problem. if it starts to happen more frequently, then take it to the dealer. however, no one has complained that this poping/clunk noise has ever ended up in a broken part, so i wouldn't worry about it.

At the same time, some people have just learned to live with it.

 

thanks for the quick replies. I really think it's coming from one of the diffs. It only happened when I turned (right or left doesn't matter) and had the clutch engaged. I tested it out a bit to make sure it wasn't the suspension by going forward and backwards while turning a bit on my flat drive way. It was a very pronounced, and consistent pop. The popping speeds up as the wheel speeds increase and as the turning angle increases. It only seems to do it when the car is really warm. I have a 3 mile commute and never hear it but figure that's just because I don't really get the car very hot. Thankfully, there doesn't seem to be any drivability issue as a result of the noise, it's just really freaking loud.