5 replies to this topic

[rhombus]

Ok, to start I have a 1998 S70 T5 Auto 110,000mi.

I have been getting this clicking sound in my front drivers side. I replaced the sway bar end links, strut bearing/mount, spring hat....and it is still there and getting worse.

Today I was set to figure out the source. All of the suspension is tight and looks fine.

I have had a tranny leak every since I got the car (last summer) I traced the leak to the drivers axel seal and replaced it. Well that didnt fix the leak.

Today I was checking the drivers axel and noticed that it has alot of play where it enters the tranny. It clicked in when I replaced the seal several months ago. I can move the axel/cv joint up/down, in/out and side to side in where it goes in the tranny. Also there is some play in the diff when i rotate the axel and I hear what could be the clicking sound I have been trying to trace.

I have worked on cars for years and have never seen a axel float around in the tranny like this.

Does this sound like a problem?

I have reason to believe the car has been hit in the front driver corner before i got it. It had one 850 turbo wheel on the car and a new headlight/side marker on that corner (along with some red marks where nuts and electrical connections are). The axel doesnt look too old. The Axel reads "P9183765 5 cyl T Auto V/L" Then below that "T 980127". Is this the correct axel for my car. I wonder if it was repaced with the wheel and perhaps is for another year.

And while I am on the subject of new headlights. My "new" drivers headlight has a shinny/mirror reflector where my passenger one has a "frosted" reflector. Anyone know where to get this shinny/mirror finish headlamp assembly. It looks much better.

Any help is very much appreciated.

Thanks,
Eric

Edited by rhombus, 13 May 2005 - 12:01 AM.

[merlin390]

Sounds like the CV joint(s) are shot. Are either of the boots ripped or show signs of slinging grease everywhere? The clicking noise might be more noticable at lower speeds while turning another good indication of worn out CV axles.

[rhombus]

It sure doesnt seem like worn CV joints. No tears or grease. It isnt a low speed only nor a turning sound. Its not like a CV joint click.

The sound will happen when i am going straight or in a turn...,even at interstate speed. It seems to do it most when just crusing under light throttle. I think the noise is from inconsistancies in the road requireing the wheels to move at different speeds. When that happens there is slack in this axel and it makes a clicking sound as the slack is taken out.

It really seems like its the wrong axel. When i rotate the axel it has some slack, and when the diff locks (cause the passenger tire is on the ground) the axel moves up where it goes into the tranny as if the spline is too small. The axel shouldnt be floating around in the diff.

[merlin390]

You're right there should be basically no slop in the fitment between the axle shaft splines and the tranny....

Did you try to pm Rich (Bay 13) yet?

[Bay13]

Hard one not being there to drive with you. Make sure the backing plate isn't rubbing the rotor. This noise does it seem speed related, I mean will the tick tick tick get faster as you go faster? I know it's hard to tell when you are driving but can you narrow it down to left or right? do you have access to a lift so you could run the car on the lift and look around underneath with a mech stethescope.

[rhombus]

Its not speed related at all. It would be bump related if I had to describe it. But it doesnt do it on all bumps. Sometimes it does it, sometimes it doesnt. It very much seems like the sound is comming from the diff.

I called my dealer and the only thing useful I found was that 98 was a split year on axels. Apparently the part number has changed over the years so I was unable to verify my current part to see if it is correct.

-I dont know if you would be willing to look at it Rich, but I will be in DC all next week for work.