Diffrential question

[OZZYSHOUSE]

On my 1999 Firebird 3.8l when I go around a turn, especially down a left hand hill turn, I hear a noise in the rear end. It's not a grinding sound but more like a tunk, tunk, tunk. But not all that loud. I don't hear it anywhere else, and I'm useually not accelerating. any ideas? I don't think its the bearings, but not sure...

[slow6]

Re: Diffrential question

This goes in the drivetrain/suspension section? IDK

I would like to get a sound clip of that cause it sounds like something I've heard before? On mine, I can hear the rear driver's side spring uncompressing and slipping or something...

[OZZYSHOUSE]

Re: Diffrential question

I'll look under that section also, thanks...I wish I had a way to give you a sound clip, but have nothing to do it with...Did you do anything with yours yet?

[Smoke Panther]

Re: Diffrential question

does your rear have an open or limited-slip differential? if it's the latter, it could be on it's way out

[BobDoLe]

Re: Diffrential question

On my 1999 Firebird 3.8l when I go around a turn, especially down a left hand hill turn, I hear a noise in the rear end. It's not a grinding sound but more like a tunk, tunk, tunk. But not all that loud. I don't hear it anywhere else, and I'm useually not accelerating. any ideas? I don't think its the bearings, but not sure...

your 1999 firebird probably has a torsen which is going to make a little noise due to it having worm gears. if you're slowing down or turning and the sound isnt too loud, it may be normal.

[frydbrain]

Re: Diffrential question

Im not a differential expert but my 98 y87 firebird makes the same noise and it also leaks oil from the pinion seal. I was told by a shop that the pinion bearing is wore out and and has some play back there which is causing the seal to vibrate and leak. I asked them if the noise I heard had anything to do with it and they said that it is probably the wore out pinion bearing. I'm having the car looked at by another shop tomorrow and they are gonna see how bad the damage is. If that bearing put any wear on the other bearings and gears then I'm basically gonna need all new guts to go in my differential which is gonna cost a pretty penny. If I were you, I would take your car to a shop and let them take a look at it.

[badinfluenceRS]

Re: Diffrential question

I had a noise that happened on drivers side turns only too, likewise at the end of the turn, it would make the noise repeatedly a couple of times.

I fixed it by replacing the drivers side wheel bearing seal

hard to tell what kind of noise it is w/o a sound clip tho

[1997Canadian3.8]

Re: Diffrential question

I've got a grinding noise when slowing down, usually only around 15 mph... I thought it was an exhaust rattle and it was. I replaced the whole exhaust with a flowmaster 80 series catback:banana:. No more rattle, until I slowed down I could hear a new grinding that was masked by the old rattle! :(

Anyone know what it could be? only makes the noise when slowing down usually when I'm approaching a stop light or turning into a driveway.

[ssms5411]

Re: Diffrential question

Exhaust rubbing or maybe heat sheild above the CAT. Or the CAt itself rattlring since they are just rack welded together.

[1997Canadian3.8]

Re: Diffrential question

I'm hoping its something as simple as a heat shield.

I'm praying it isn't a tranny or rear-end !

The car only has 55,000 miles on it so I can't imagine it's something that big

[whitdog54]

Re: Diffrential question

kind of sounds like bad LCA bushings actually. Is it almost like a rubber ball in a tin can? thats usually the sound of bad lower control arm bushings.

[ssms5411]

Re: Diffrential question

Might need to grease the rear sway bar bushings also with the LCA's.