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Rear Axle Noise

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Old 02-02-2004, 04:28 PM
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So I'm getting a clunking sound from what sounds like it's coming from the right rear of the car, the right axle (halfshaft?).



Not the right wheel bearing, and don't hear the clunking sound on the left side.



Do axles go bad frequently? How difficult is it to take it out & replace? I have a good mechanic a mile away, but if I can do it & save some money, I have the time. Problem is not bushings. Thanks!



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Old 02-02-2004, 04:38 PM
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it's not the axle, it's one of the 20 or so bushings back there. upper/lower control arms, toe-links, diff case bushings, ect. A very common problem on the FD
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Old 02-02-2004, 05:27 PM
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Let me be clear about this, it's NOT the bushings. Unless you think bushings can make clunking noise when the rear end is lifted up on a jack. Save your pat answers and feel free to give useful info like how difficult (or easy) it is to replace the axle.
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Old 02-02-2004, 06:00 PM
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Loose the attitude buddy, you never said that you had the clunking with the car jacked up, just you had a clunking noise in the rear. Since you are so damn smart you should figure how to get the axle out. It's basic mechanics, and common sense, so I don't need to tell you.
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Old 02-02-2004, 07:08 PM
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I appreciate the fact that you're a moderator and since fd's have bushing issues over time (I know, had a '93 in 1999) and it just seemed logical that's what my problem was, to post the standard bushing answer and be done with it and feel good that you've helped a newbie, and then to feel silly after realizing you didn't read my first post carefully and I did kinda smack you for it, but the fact remains I'm still looking for any advice/tips on axle removal. If you can get past any chagrin you may still have, I really would like to hear any useful input.
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Old 02-02-2004, 07:27 PM
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lol somebody is pms'ing. How do you know its the axle that is bad theres a lot more that could make clunking noises in the rear besides bushings? When you take it out for a drive when does it make the noise, you said that when it was jack'd up it still made the noise, so why dont you just keep making the noise till you pin point the problem it might be something else, i never heard of an axle going bad. Could be your diff which is easy to replace. I never took out an axle id invest the 10 bucks on a manuel or checkout iluvmyrx7 they have manuels posted so check those out. good luck
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Old 02-02-2004, 07:37 PM
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It didn't sound like it was coming from the differential, as the left side was comparatively quiet. The right wheel bearings weren't making the sound, so the only think I can think of is what's in between, namely the axle/cv joint.



Have you ever taken one out or watched a friend do it? It doesn't look too bad, but some things that look easy are not.
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Old 02-02-2004, 07:40 PM
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Blackfoot--If your going to ask a question you have to be prepared for different answers.



If you just asked how do you replace the axle then that would be fine, but you asked



"So I'm getting a clunking sound from what sounds like it's coming from the right rear of the car, the right axle (halfshaft?).



Not the right wheel bearing, and don't hear the clunking sound on the left side.



Do axles go bad frequently? How difficult is it to take it out & replace? I have a good mechanic a mile away, but if I can do it & save some money, I have the time."



So anyway back to the subject. You spin the wheel and it clunks then while its on jacks? Happening also while driving?
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Old 02-02-2004, 07:44 PM
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dont be an ***-goblin
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Old 02-02-2004, 08:13 PM
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Blackfoot--If your going to ask a question you have to be prepared for different answers.



If you just asked how do you replace the axle then that would be fine, but you asked



"So I'm getting a clunking sound from what sounds like it's coming from the right rear of the car, the right axle (halfshaft?).



Not the right wheel bearing, and don't hear the clunking sound on the left side.



Do axles go bad frequently? How difficult is it to take it out & replace? I have a good mechanic a mile away, but if I can do it & save some money, I have the time."
Exactly, but left out is where I said it wasn't the bushings.



So anyway back to the subject. You spin the wheel and it clunks then while its on jacks? Happening also while driving?
It clunks (clanks, etc.) both when under power on jackstands and the road. I'm at a loss the more I think about it to see where it's anything else but the axle. The moderator thinks it will be easy for me to fix it, do you think so?
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