Banging noise!, Changed axel, bearing, hub & the whole spindle... Options

[str8thugginit4ya]

Hey guys,

Really getting kind of frustrated with this & would really appreciate your help; so my passenger side hub & bearing went bad a couple weeks ago & started making a lot of noise. You don't hear the noise until you reach to about 10-15 miles & up. It's like almost a banging noise & it progresses with speed. It's hard to explain the noise through text, but if you can imagine, it's like a DOOM DOOM DOOM kind of noise. Also, as I turn right or left the noise progresses more as well. I changed the hub, which was worn down to NOTHING, and also the bearing & the whole spindle and I'm still hearing the same exact noise. Now, when I changed all of that stuff, the axle nut was loose cause the nut-lock & cotter pin was missing (I don't know). So I figured since the axle nut was loose, that wore down the hub really bad. So after I changed it I thought everything would be fixed, but I guess I was wrong. I put back a nut-lock & cotter pin. Does anyone have any ideas on what else it could be? I even tried changing out my wheels to see if it were a wheel problem, but no luck. It still made the noise with new wheels. If anyone has any ideas on what it could be, your help would be much appreciated.


-Thank you for your time, Ryan

[block]

worn endlink? bad ball joint? check for leaks.

[mkernz22]

your axle could be messed up as well

[str8thugginit4ya]

your axle could be messed up as well

Changed axel (sorry, I didn't mention that) and nothing has changed. Noise is still there Have not seen any leaks of any kind. Will double check, though.My end links LOOK fine, could there be an interior malfunction on the end link? I'll also have to check the ball joint as well. Thanks for the thoughts, I will let you guys know what I find. Until then, more ideas would be greatly appreciated.




-Thanks again, Ryan

[trdproven]

when you changed the axle, what about the u-joint?

also is it making noise only on bumps or on accel?

This post has been edited by trdproven: Mar 11, 2012 - 7:32 AM

[Bitter]

What did you torque the axle nut too?

What u-joint? this is FWD, unless he has an AllTrac and isn't telling us.

[808celica]

are you using the proper lug nuts and are they torqued down?

[mak5603]

You check your rear engine mount? Probably not your issue from the looks of it, but i know i once had a rear mount blow and for awhile i thought it could be an axle problem..

[str8thugginit4ya]

Sorry for the late reply guys, I have a 94 GT w/ a 3rd gen 3SGTE swap in it (Front Wheel Drive). To be honest, I don't even know what a U-joint is. No, it's making noise on acceleration & when I turn (majority of the time) the noise gets louder. I have aftermarket wheels & are using the lug nuts that came with them. I torque them down with air tools, so I'm pretty sure they're torqued correctly. But, I even tried using some factory corolla wheels to see if the wheels were the problem (I also used the factory Toyota lug nuts) & the noise wasn't as loud, but it was still there & still got louder with turns. I have the poly-urethane mount inserts & when I installed them on with my 3s, they weren't as solid as when I had installed them on my 99 GT 5SFE, could that be some sort of indicator there?

-Thanks again for all the ideas. Keep them coming, Ryan

[schmooot]

Are these new parts you are putting in? (hub/bearing) or parts from a wrecker? If they are wrecker parts you can't rule them out just yet

u-joint is probably referring to your cv joint (aka driveaxles) as that is the only place on your particular car you would find one. But you say you changed the axle as well.


So to break it down...you changed the hub assembly, as well as the driveaxle and the wheels, and the noise is exactly the same? You are sure the noise is coming from the passenger side?

If the noise changes with speed that can narrow down your search to only the parts that spin. Which is your two cv joints, bearings inside the hub, and brake disc/caliper setup.

The beauty of a FWD is you can jack up the front end (support it well and proper with jackstands obviously!!) and then crawl under there and have a listen while someone gets in the drivers seat and gets it rolling, and turns the wheel. Now there are quite obviously safety concerns with this method but as long as you aren't a complete moron you should have no problem pinpointing the noise.

IMO even though you changed the axle, I would still suspect it as being the culprit, bad cv joints make that noise and get louder when turning, they will also make noises if they aren't properly inserted into the transmission, or if the axle nut is loose. Suspension is tricky, check and double check that all the joints and bolts are tight, jack the car up and then put a jack under the wheel to get it sprung back up and then start prying at things with a big bar as well.

This post has been edited by schmooot: Mar 12, 2012 - 9:55 PM

[str8thugginit4ya]

Are these new parts you are putting in? (hub/bearing) or parts from a wrecker? If they are wrecker parts you can't rule them out just yet

u-joint is probably referring to your cv joint (aka driveaxles) as that is the only place on your particular car you would find one. But you say you changed the axle as well.


So to break it down...you changed the hub assembly, as well as the driveaxle and the wheels, and the noise is exactly the same? You are sure the noise is coming from the passenger side?

If the noise changes with speed that can narrow down your search to only the parts that spin. Which is your two cv joints, bearings inside the hub, and brake disc/caliper setup.

The beauty of a FWD is you can jack up the front end (support it well and proper with jackstands obviously!!) and then crawl under there and have a listen while someone gets in the drivers seat and gets it rolling, and turns the wheel. Now there are quite obviously safety concerns with this method but as long as you aren't a complete moron you should have no problem pinpointing the noise.

IMO even though you changed the axle, I would still suspect it as being the culprit, bad cv joints make that noise and get louder when turning, they will also make noises if they aren't properly inserted into the transmission, or if the axle nut is loose. Suspension is tricky, check and double check that all the joints and bolts are tight, jack the car up and then put a jack under the wheel to get it sprung back up and then start prying at things with a big bar as well.

Yes sir, all the parts that I changed were brand new. But after I changed the hub/bearing & it was still making a noise, so I tried to change it again with a used one to see if it would make a difference. Unfortunately it didn't, so I'll probably put back the new one back in soon. I will see if I could check out the cv joints & what not today or maybe tomorrow. I doubt that it could be the axel, but I could be wrong. I'll see if I could double check when I have the car on jack stands again.


-Thanks, Ryan


Yes, I'm pretty sure it's coming from the passenger side. Well, at least that's what it sounds like inside the car. I haven't had a second set of ears listen to it on the outside or what not. And yes, when I changed out the wheels, the noise got a LITTLE bit quieter, but was still noticeably there.


-Thanks again, Ryan

[Syaoran]

This is assuming the wheels are bigger than the corolla ones.

If the noise is less but is still there when you put the rolla wheels on then its a suspension issue, I would say, because the softer tires on the rolla wheels take some of the impact. I would check control arm bushings and ball joints.

[str8thugginit4ya]

This is assuming the wheels are bigger than the corolla ones.

If the noise is less but is still there when you put the rolla wheels on then its a suspension issue, I would say, because the softer tires on the rolla wheels take some of the impact. I would check control arm bushings and ball joints.

Thanks for the tip bro, appreciate it. And yes, the wheels I had on before were 17x7 & I believe the Corolla wheels were 15's or 16's if I'm not mistaken, with much beefier tires.


-Thanks again, Ryan

[str8thugginit4ya]

Ok, so sorry for taking so long with this. But I actually got one of my friends to put my car on a lift. So I ran the car up to abOut 50-55 mph & it sounds like the noise is actually coming from the transmission. Im not sure if this is what you call it, but it sounds like the transfer case is where it's coming from. The section near where the axels are inserted in the transmission. It sounds like a very high pitched noise. Like when a grinder hits metal. So Im assuming that's exactly what is happening. Something is probably broken up inside the tranny and grinding inside the transmission. Any ideas on this? Any help would be appreciated.


-Thank you for your time, Ryan

Ok, so sorry for taking so long with this. But I actually got one of my friends to put my car on a lift. So I ran the car up to abOut 50-55 mph & it sounds like the noise is actually coming from the transmission. Im not sure if this is what you call it, but it sounds like the transfer case is where it's coming from. The section near where the axels are inserted in the transmission. It sounds like a very high pitched noise. Like when a grinder hits metal. So Im assuming that's exactly what is happening. Something is probably broken up inside the tranny and grinding inside the transmission. Any ideas on this? Any help would be appreciated.


-Thank you for your time, Ryan

[Bitter]

Differential is probably shot, maybe ran out of fluid.

[str8thugginit4ya]

Differential is probably shot, maybe ran out of fluid.

So it would be best to just get another transmission, I'm assuming? Or can the differential be fixed easily/cheap?



-Thanks, Ryan

[Syaoran]

If you're going to get another transmission, I would pay the extra cash and get an LSD to put into the S54. Don't quote me on it, but I think the LSD for the MR-S fits with no modifications in the S54 transmission.

If not, then get a new trans.

[str8thugginit4ya]

If you're going to get another transmission, I would pay the extra cash and get an LSD to put into the S54. Don't quote me on it, but I think the LSD for the MR-S fits with no modifications in the S54 transmission.

If not, then get a new trans.

I agree with you 100%. But do I have to change the transmission or can I just change the differential? I may b asking a dumb question, by I have no experience with transmissions & differentials & what not. Please let me know as soon as you can.


-Thanks again, Ryan