Loud Clunking

[pmurr181]

Hey Guys,

So i have loud clunking at low speeds when turing in my 1990 gts-4. I was told when i bought the car that it has an aftermarket 1.5 diff in it. I understand that they are supposed to have some chatter and what not but this is a large clunk clunk CLUNK like something binding or something. Any ways i took the car into a local shop and they looked it over and said my subframe bushings where gone.Those have been replaced with new solid aluminum bushings and also locked the rear end with hicas lock bar. Tie rods have been changed and all fluids flushed. When i changed the rear and front diff fluids the other day they were still very clean with no shavings or shards of metal at all. I am still trying to figure out what the heck this can be. i have also checked the drive shaft and there isnt any play.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Skym]

It's normal to have a clunking sound with stock LSD when backing off throttle (backlash to prevent shaft's from getting damaged).

Aftermarket LSD can chatter when doing a U turn, as shown on this R32 GTS-T -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1JlZNPI6MQ

Stock LSD is smooth when doing a U turn.

Have someone listen for the location of sound when driving around carpark.

It could be hanger bearing on main propshaft, as it can make a clunk sound near rear seats. Also check rear trans mount, as from experience it can create a clunk sound from centre console area.

Another thing I found is check jack in passenger side of trunk, as can move around making a clunk sound.

[Nismo_line]

ya if i slide my car or hit a big bump the jack makes a big thud. so annoying i wish i could strap the damn jack down

[Skym]

I just opened the jack up where it sits which jammed jack in place. Hasn't made a sound since doing that.

Although I now get the board that sits on top of the spare tyre moving around which makes a thud (wood on metal) sound. Haven't found a fix for that, except removing the board.

[pmurr181]

i dont think its the diff. I have chatter like in the video but this clunk shakes the whole car and even jerks me in the seat. The jack is not loose. how would i check the hanger bearing? Could it possibly be the cv joint? however both of my boots for the cv joints are in perfect condition?

[pmurr181]

also the clunking does not happen when accelerating or decelerating in a straight line or shifting or down shifting. Only when i turn a corner at low speeds. If i go fast it doesn't make sound. Only when i am starting from a stand still and after my clutch has fully engaged on the apex of the corner i would say.

[Tony-R32]

lol I wrapped my jack in a towel so that it wouldn't make a clanking sound anymore.

I had the same issue in my lancer, and for me the problem was a worn axle shaft joint. On that car it was cheaper to replace the whole axle shaft rather than just the joint.

Dunno if this will help, but figured i'd share anyways...good luck!

[pmurr181]

Hey thanks I check that out. I also noticed on my way to school today at a coast coming to a stop if I turn steering wheel like 45 degrees left or right I get the rattle but no clunk !

[Oakville]

that does sound like an aggressive diff

[DreadedFist]

Sounds like a fancy limited slip diff to me. I get clunking, but it's diff backlash plus driveshaft center bearing has some play and bounces up and down a bit.

[pmurr181]

Ah that could be true how would I check for this?

[pmurr181]

If it's diff would it be almost intermittent ?

[Skym]

Could be diffhead or wheelbearings if only when turning. If apply brakes and shift into reverse, does it make a clunk sound??? If it does, then it's probably shaft's or diffhead related. Driving around with someone on outside of car listening for sound is the best way I've found to trace the problem.

When halfshaft's failed on my car, they failed on wheel side on both sides (could twist joint and was very loose). Propshaft joint failed on diffhead side and diffhead became a single spinner and spinning on passenger side. That was after hard launches and Nissan dealership confirmed that they don't like hard launches.

Can snap the shaft part that goes into hub with enough torque from a turbocharged Nissan V8 (have a look on Nico forums for a R32 with turbocharged VH41?, as has the photo's of the snapped halfshaft's).

If it's a diffhead problem, can use USA made diffhead internals (some say Nismo use these diffhead internals, but not sure if it's true or not) -

http://www.precisiongear.com/powerbrute.htm

They make it for R200 diffhead and matches the part number on diffhead internals (LOM59-12).

[pmurr181]

Okay i am gunna check some things out and ill post what i find. Thanks Skym. Also any idea how much and where i can find halfshafts for a r32 gts-4?

[Skym]

There are other ways to test diffhead and I think one process varies depending on type of diffhead car has. There are how too's if you search the web. It involves car being off the ground. There's one person on left side and another person on right side and turning wheels the same way, opposite direction or something like that. It should be obvious if there's a noise.

R32 GTR, R32 GTS-4 share similar diameter halfshaft's (hard to break them). Not sure how they differ on diffhead with bolt pattern on ears (stubs?).

My car is a R32 GTS-T that has Silvia sized halfshaft's, etc (smaller diameter). Got replacements from wrecker. But upgrading to I think was rebuildable 300ZX?? joints, rebalancing is better.