Help troubleshooting noise from rear axle when parked

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Mike NXP

Mike NXP

Joined
Jul 19, 2018
Threads
39
Messages
4,124
Location
Northwest Montana
Hey, looking for some insight on something that may or may not be normal, but I'm not sure.

Symptoms
Clunking from rear axle when parked and rocking the vehicle

I noticed this when I hoped up on my rear tire to work up on the roof rack. I hear like a sort of hallow heavy metal contact / clunking noise. I can put my hand on the axle and feel it as well.

I only rocked it a few times before telling myself; this must be normal, stop doing what you're doing........ But then I started to wonder, is it normal? Maybe just the gears in the rear differential doing there thing and unfortunately after all this age it has some play?


So, does anyone know if this is a normal symptom for a solid rear axle in park
 
Trunk Monkey said:
Most likely the springs. You could get a mechanic's stethoscope and lay under the truck while someone else rocks it and easily pinpoint where it's coming from.
Click to expand...
Interesting, I didn't think of that. Yeah I need to poke around more down there with someone else rocking the vehicle. I felt the thud on the axle but it could for sure be coming from other areas.

If I find it to be the springs shifting a bit, is that normal?

Now that you mention it, I have heard this hollow springy thudy type of noise in other scenarios. Like sometimes when I am reversing slowly, and then sort of hit the brakes hard the rear end shifts / lifts a bit and I hear a similar noise. Hmm ok I will investigate more and hope its nothing inside my axle showing signs of failure
 
Trunk Monkey said:
Most likely the springs. You could get a mechanic's stethoscope and lay under the truck while someone else rocks it and easily pinpoint where it's coming from.
Click to expand...
I have a noise that I think is originating from the springs as well. How could that be solved? Seems like a weird spot for a noise to come from, but mine definitely sounds like a "load and unload" springy type noise.
 
TheForger said:
I have a noise that I think is originating from the springs as well. How could that be solved? Seems like a weird spot for a noise to come from, but mine definitely sounds like a "load and unload" springy type noise.
Click to expand...
Looks like you have aftermarket springs as well. I have dobinsons installed.

I wouldn't translate any of this to being a problem, but I wouldn't say it's normal either..... IDK, I'm not losing sleep over it yet..... If the differential is making the noise I may be a bit more concerned but seeing as I have no driveline slack / clunks / issues maybe it is just the springs being bitchy

I'd suspect to see some sort of wear marks as well if they are moving around but maybe not. I need to inspect closer
 
My track bar hole on the driver's side of the rear axle (or bracket - forgot which) is egged out and no matter how you tighten the nut, it clunks when you go over a diagonal transition (like backing out of a paved driveway). I'm studying how I can use a tapered washer under tension to stop the clunk.
 
Lock up your parking brake and rock it. If your brakes lock up good and you still hear the noise I would say it is more likelyi n the suspension. Could be bushings on the control arms, springs, or something else. There will always be some play in the driveline, u joints, slip yolk, ring and pinion, diff gears, axle splines. Every one of these components will have a tiny bit of play that will become a tiny bit more with time just because these things wear. Every component gets a tiny bit of wear and can stack causing more movement.
 
SteveH said:
My track bar hole on the driver's side of the rear axle (or bracket - forgot which) is egged out and no matter how you tighten the nut, it clunks when you go over a diagonal transition (like backing out of a paved driveway). I'm studying how I can use a tapered washer under tension to stop the clunk.
Click to expand...
My panhard bar did the same thing. I welded a washer where it is supposed to be and used a longer bolt with a locknut.
 
Update on my end

I had a slow leak in my tire so ended up lifting the rear up and removing the tire. Before removing, I was able to move the tire forward and backward slightly and the noise was gone with the vehicle in the air a bit....... I could hear the gears inside the diff doing their thing but it wasn't like the hollow metal poppy type noise I heard earlier.

I would have to agree with the previous comments of the coil causing the noise. I don't necessarily think it's a bad noise, just something I hear now and then when the rear end weight shifts up and down, like in reverse and then a quick tap of the brakes.

My panhard bar is new ( rear end accident a few years back ) and everything is tight there. Possible control arm bushing slop but based on the sound itself I am blaming the coil as the number one suspect.

Check this off the paranoia list for now and move on to worrying about when my key cylinder might break.
 
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