Help with differential clunk please! - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Tajefe Couple · 05-30-2019, 10:19 PM

Think I got this posted in the correct forum now.

Took my wheels off to clean and try to locate some noise today. The below video is not mine but is exactly what I found mine doing. When rotating either wheel the differential/driveshaft makes a clunking noise along with the play seen in video. 2010 Camaro with 3:91, JRE posi mod, poly bushings, BMR LCA's and adjustable toe rods.
My 2012 V6 has some play and noise but is much quieter. Also had a 3:45 diff laying in the shop and the noise and play in it falls between the 3:91 and 2:92 in the V6.

Is this normal with this setup?
Thought appreciated!

152LTRockin · 05-31-2019, 08:11 AM

Is it full of oil? It does sound like there is a alot of play someplace. I'd check the oil level and condition. To check the clearances gets involved, you need to know what you are looking for. Could be too much pinion backlash or something loose in the axles. Any decent shop should be able to check it out for 50 bucks.

Tajefe Couple · 05-31-2019, 10:30 AM

Thx 152. Yes full of oil, thought about changing it. Worst fear is the pinion or gears. Have to try and find a good shop, could be 3 hours away just like a good tuner. Sometimes it really sucks to live in BFE.
Thought it odd though all 3 Differentials had about the same play, this one just has that loud clunk. Not much noise while driving, except after spirited driving when slowing or cornering. Then usually just "pops" a couple times like something is bound up.

snags18 · 05-31-2019, 04:16 PM

Tajefe Couple,

I swapped a 3.91 differential into my manual 2010 SS. A few thousand miles later I started hearing a "clunk" when driving at slow speeds. A mechanic friend heard it and suggested that it was just normal slack from the pinion in the differential. Drove me nuts. Turns out the passenger side bolt that holds the differential in place had worked itself loose. Something to check.

Good Luck,

John

Tajefe Couple · 05-31-2019, 04:28 PM

Thanks for the advice John.

Will start checking torque on all suspension parts next. Bushings did all look good and nothing felt loose when moving parts by hand. Didn't notice any type of leaks anywhere either.

I don't hear much noise other than when car is slowing after suspension had been loaded with spirited driving. Even then just a few pops like something was bound up then noise is gone??? Could be I'm just not hearing it over the extremely loud exhaust though.

152LTRockin · 05-31-2019, 05:58 PM

Try this, get ahold of the pinion input flange then try to move it gently up and down...in and out. There should be ZERO play. Then try checking how much backlash you can feel. To do this simply hold the pinion input flange and gently turn it to the left then to the right slowly until you feel it stop. Do not turn it far enough to turn the axles. You will feel a little bump as the pinion gear touches the ring gear. What you feeling for is how much space is between the gears. It shouldn't be much. To really know the best would take it to a reputable rear shop>if that possible in todays world.

Tajefe Couple · 05-31-2019, 06:48 PM

Thanks again 152!
I did try that while under it. Only movement is rotational on pinion flange no other play noticed. Would guess it's around 1/4" max, probably a little less. Wouldn't have been that concerned as much but the loud clunking is somewhat disturbing to me. Doesn't seem normal to be that loud.
Both half shafts could also be moved in and out of the differential ever so slightly as well. No noise just moved a very minimal amount, maybe 1\16" at most.

152LTRockin · 06-01-2019, 06:11 PM

Make sure the oil is clean and full. Drive it.

Tajefe Couple · 06-01-2019, 10:12 PM

Thanks again 152. Think just going to go ahead and change the fluid.

05-31-2019, 10:30 AM	#3
Tajefe Couple Drives: Never just fly under the radar Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,531 View My Garage	Thx 152. Yes full of oil, thought about changing it. Worst fear is the pinion or gears. Have to try and find a good shop, could be 3 hours away just like a good tuner. Sometimes it really sucks to live in BFE. Thought it odd though all 3 Differentials had about the same play, this one just has that loud clunk. Not much noise while driving, except after spirited driving when slowing or cornering. Then usually just "pops" a couple times like something is bound up. __________________ 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 Old Skool

05-31-2019, 04:28 PM	#5
Tajefe Couple Drives: Never just fly under the radar Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,531 View My Garage	Thanks for the advice John. Will start checking torque on all suspension parts next. Bushings did all look good and nothing felt loose when moving parts by hand. Didn't notice any type of leaks anywhere either. I don't hear much noise other than when car is slowing after suspension had been loaded with spirited driving. Even then just a few pops like something was bound up then noise is gone??? Could be I'm just not hearing it over the extremely loud exhaust though. __________________ 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 Old Skool

05-31-2019, 06:48 PM	#7
Tajefe Couple Drives: Never just fly under the radar Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,531 View My Garage	Thanks again 152! I did try that while under it. Only movement is rotational on pinion flange no other play noticed. Would guess it's around 1/4" max, probably a little less. Wouldn't have been that concerned as much but the loud clunking is somewhat disturbing to me. Doesn't seem normal to be that loud. Both half shafts could also be moved in and out of the differential ever so slightly as well. No noise just moved a very minimal amount, maybe 1\16" at most. __________________ 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 Old Skool

06-01-2019, 10:12 PM	#9
Tajefe Couple Drives: Never just fly under the radar Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,531 View My Garage	Thanks again 152. Think just going to go ahead and change the fluid. __________________ 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 Old Skool

05-31-2019, 08:11 AM	#2
152LTRockin Account Suspended Drives: 15 2lt RS Top Gun Camaro Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: us Posts: 389	Is it full of oil? It does sound like there is a alot of play someplace. I'd check the oil level and condition. To check the clearances gets involved, you need to know what you are looking for. Could be too much pinion backlash or something loose in the axles. Any decent shop should be able to check it out for 50 bucks.

05-31-2019, 04:16 PM	#4
snags18 Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NC Posts: 20	Tajefe Couple, I swapped a 3.91 differential into my manual 2010 SS. A few thousand miles later I started hearing a "clunk" when driving at slow speeds. A mechanic friend heard it and suggested that it was just normal slack from the pinion in the differential. Drove me nuts. Turns out the passenger side bolt that holds the differential in place had worked itself loose. Something to check. Good Luck, John

05-31-2019, 05:58 PM	#6
152LTRockin Account Suspended Drives: 15 2lt RS Top Gun Camaro Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: us Posts: 389	Try this, get ahold of the pinion input flange then try to move it gently up and down...in and out. There should be ZERO play. Then try checking how much backlash you can feel. To do this simply hold the pinion input flange and gently turn it to the left then to the right slowly until you feel it stop. Do not turn it far enough to turn the axles. You will feel a little bump as the pinion gear touches the ring gear. What you feeling for is how much space is between the gears. It shouldn't be much. To really know the best would take it to a reputable rear shop>if that possible in todays world.

06-01-2019, 06:11 PM	#8
152LTRockin Account Suspended Drives: 15 2lt RS Top Gun Camaro Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: us Posts: 389	Make sure the oil is clean and full. Drive it.