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Thump Thump Thump... when turning hard

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pjsmetana

pjsmetana

Jedi Warrior
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When I'm driving fairly fast and turn fairly hard, lets call it "taking advantage of the handling", I hear a mild THUMP THUMP THUMP sound that is speed dependent. Its only present when turning hard. I've looked under the car and don't see anything obvious. I checked the wheel lug nuts and they are all tight. So what am I missing?

I'm pretty sure the sound is only coming from the right rear.

I have yet to jack it up and do the "grab-n-shake", but I'm pretty sure since it requires a heavy side load in order to make this sound I would likely not find anything this way anyways.
 
Two likely possibilities are: a failing u-joint on one of the rear axle shafts; and (believe it or not) b: a bad FRONT wheel bearing. The latter turned out to be the cause of a similar noise/situation I experienced in my Herald several years ago!
 
Andrew has it. I would look at the u joints first or even the wheel bearings but most likely the u joints.
 
Back when my 3B was still on the road I had that problem. It was a broken motor mount that allowed the drive shaft to move enough to hit the floor tunnel.

This happened only corners and then only if I turned to the left.
 
It could also be a belt starting to separate or break in a tire. Try rotating them and see for the sound changes places, or if putting the right rear tire on the front causes a vibration in the steering wheel..
 
Andrew Mace said:
...a failing u-joint on one of the rear axle shafts; and (believe it or not) b: a bad FRONT wheel bearing...
Click to expand...

rlwhitetr3b said:
... broken motor mount...
Click to expand...

DaveatMoon said:
...belt starting to separate or break in a tire...
Click to expand...

Checked, Checked, Checked, and Checked. While I was under it I shook all the drive line parts and the only thing that I could even move a tiny bit was the drive shaft. It made no noise at all at the rear, and only seemed to make a small amount where it mates up with the OD/tranny (I had it in 1st gear). Nothing seemed any more loose than 'brand-new' tight, as I was told it all would be by the PO.

So then, frustrated I pulled out my camera and started snapping pictures so I could look and study them while enjoying a beer in the AC.

As I started wiggling out from under my car, I hit my exhaust, and THUMP... theres that sound! I hit it again, then again, THUMP THUMP! I found the culprit! I then grabbed it with both hands and rocked it back and fourth and found that the pipe clamp was loose allowing it to rock back and fourth.

I pulled out the 1/2 inch, tightened the clamp, then hopped in for a drive. 2 hours later, I arrived at home, covered in sweat! No problems at all, and now I'm sitting down enjoying a slice of home-made pizza and bottle of Blue Moon!

P1020217.jpg


Its a good day tater!
 
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