Driveline tick, tick, ticking

REman · Post by **REman** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 3:33 pm

First post on this great website! I've learned a lot already so far from faq's and other posts, thanks to all!

Recently I've been hearing this ticking from what I believe to be the drive line...i.e. drive shaft, differential, bearings, etc. only in motion. It gets faster and louder as I increase speed.

So I lifted both sides of the rear end yesterday and began basic inspections as follows...

1.Checked each wheel for anything loose (6 and 12 o'clock...3 and 6 o'clock). Seemed very tight.

2.Spun the wheels in neutral and didn't hear anything unusual (no tick).

3. Checked CV shafts for tightness. No play there either except the horizontal in and out as I understand (from reading here) is normal. Noticed the differential rubber mount is maybe missing some rubber(not sure because haven't really seen a good pic of a new one) never replaced so most likely bad.

4. Proceeded to drive shaft, grabbed close to the differential and don't really know how much play should be there but felt like no more than 1/2 to 1 inch if I had to guess. Seemed a little clunky sounding (for lack of better description) while spinning back and forth. 1st question might be is this normal?

5. Then went further down towards tranny even though mostly hidden by heat shield and exhaust but did check the guibo (aka universal joint?) and appeared tight and in tack. Noticed that maybe the center of the drive shaft may be sagging as it appears to be rubbing against heat shield. Maybe the center bearing has shifted. If so can it be adjusted without removing the exhaust? It appears the heat shield can be removed easy enough but I was wondering if I'm on the right track here or have I missed something else obvious altogether?

6. Last turned the engine on and ran up to 2K RPM and still did not hear the ticking so must happen under load only.

Appreciate any insight if anyone's encountered similar situations.

Blaise · Post by **Blaise** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 3:42 pm

REman wrote: 4. Proceeded to drive shaft, grabbed close to the differential and don't really know how much play should be there but felt like no more than 1/2 to 1 inch if I had to guess. Seemed a little clunky sounding (for lack of better description) while spinning back and forth. 1st question might be is this normal?

5. Then went further down towards tranny even though mostly hidden by heat shield and exhaust but did check the guibo (aka universal joint?) and appeared tight and in tack. Noticed that maybe the center of the drive shaft may be sagging as it appears to be rubbing against heat shield. Maybe the center bearing has shifted. If so can it be adjusted without removing the exhaust? It appears the heat shield can be removed easy enough but I was wondering if I'm on the right track here or have I missed something else obvious altogether?

Your item #4 seems suspicious. That seems like a huge amount of play. Was this in the direction turn or side to side. Either way, it does not seem right.

Item #5, below that heat shield is the center support bearing. If you think the driveshaft is sagging and touching the heat shield, I would definitely take a look in there. It will be obvious what it should look like.

You differential mount should not be missing rubber.

The guibo is not a universal joint. It serves to dampen the driveshaft, not to change the angle.

Take all of this with a grain of salt...as I am really a beginner on these cars. But I thought this might be helpful.

REman · Post by **REman** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 4:06 pm

The #4 test was spinning it by hand, didn't feel loose shaking it.

I strongly suspect the center bearing area sag I mentioned. Do you know if it can be adjusted without taking off the exhaust?
It appears that may be possible from looking at the repair manual(doesn't really say though).

Thanks for the quick reply Blaise!

Blaise · Post by **Blaise** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 4:32 pm

REman wrote:The #4 test was spinning it by hand, didn't feel loose shaking it.

I strongly suspect the center bearing area sag I mentioned. Do you know if it can be adjusted without taking off the exhaust?
It appears that may be possible from looking at the repair manual(doesn't really say though).

Thanks for the quick reply Blaise!

If I remember correctly, you should be able to remove the heat shield without removing the exhaust. I was able to on parts car. If the center bearing support is shot, you will just have to replace it (rather than adjust it).

Here is the guibo....sounds like yours is fine:

<table><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/w ... site"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_UZQu ... C07899.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></td></tr><tr><td>From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/1030509870 ... bsite">E12 driveline photos</a></td></tr></table>

Here is the center bearing support:

<table><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/U ... site"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_UZQu ... C07907.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></td></tr><tr><td>From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/1030509870 ... bsite">E12 driveline photos</a></td></tr></table>

The differential mount:

<table><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/T ... site"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_UZQu ... C07911.JPG" height="400" width="300"></a></td></tr><tr><td>From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/1030509870 ... bsite">E12 driveline photos</a></td></tr></table>

<table><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/5 ... site"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_UZQu ... C00663.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></td></tr><tr><td>From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/1030509870 ... bsite">E12 driveline photos</a></td></tr></table>
As to #4, are you talking about play in the driveline....turning the shaft and seeing the wheels turn?

REman · Post by **REman** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 5:32 pm

Wow thanks for the photos, really helpful!

Below is a pic my diff. mnt, could this be part of the problem maybe?

As to #4 that was just twisting in hand (back and forth).

Thanks again.

Blaise · Post by **Blaise** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 5:55 pm

That photo is so small....I can't see the rubber on the mount. If you pull up and down on that mount, does it move? I hear that the mount to the sheetmetal often fails.

I would not worry about the lash that you felt at the driveshaft to the diff connection.

Also, there was a discussion a while back on the CV joints causing ticking sounds when warn. My parts car had 300k miles on it and the rear right side had this ticking. If I had kept the car, or those parts, I would have tackled it.

REman · Post by **REman** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 7:16 pm

Thanks man...sorry for bad photo need to work on the photo transfer for this website I guess...check link again and should come in better once you click on it.

Will give it a try with the heat shield off and report back findings.

Many thanks.

Domingo · Post by **Domingo** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 7:48 pm

Is it tick,tick,tack or tick,tack,tick?

REman · Post by **REman** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 7:55 pm

More tick, tick, tick...doesn't change tone and very continual...faster as you go faster.

Domingo · Post by **Domingo** » Sat Apr 02, 2011 12:44 pm

mmmmmmm

Can you hear the same tick if you go in reverse?

Try please (be very careful...)

REman · Post by **REman** » Sat Apr 02, 2011 3:12 pm

Haven't tested it in reverse but just got the the front end up on ramps and will be looking at removing the heat shield under the center bearing when it cools off. After just taking a peek at it again it appears the drive shaft is rubbing/spinning against the heat shield and that could very well be the ticking.

Will be getting under it most likely tomorrow, been working hard at cleaning up after the storms we just had here in Central FL and replacing all the small electronics that got zapped by the lightning bolt that just missed my house.

Will report back at what I find.

Thanks.

alotawatts · Post by **alotawatts** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 12:05 am

REman wrote: will be looking at removing the heat shield under the center bearing
Thanks.

Maybe just a loose or missing mounting bolt

REman · Post by **REman** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 10:05 am

Well finally got the heat shield off today and took a look around the center bearing and didn't really see any problem.
Then went for a ride without heat shield on and sure enough still ticking away so drive shaft appears to be ok but here are some pics in case anyone out there sees something I don't.

With heat shield on...

Exposed center bearing...

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I have never seen this center bearing so I don"t know how firm it should be holding the shaft but if anyone has/knows how to test it please chime in while I have that shield off...appreciate any thoughts and recommendations, thanks.

BTW here's how that rear diff mount looks....

Domingo · Post by **Domingo** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 10:14 am

Don't forget the idea of rubber is the rubbery effect and that is something 15 or 20 yrs old + rubber just doesn't have anymore. All rubber in the E12 after 20 years should be replaced.
That has been my experience and the new car feeling has returned to the car, really.
From the pics I can tell the rubber needs replacement, all of it. You can start doing it gradually.
The result is that you end up with a new car with the characteristics of a true driving machine without all the "cosmetic" boloney added just to have a "marketing strategy"

Blaise · Post by **Blaise** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 10:23 am

I don't see anything in your photos that I would think would cause ticking. All the rubber looks intact.

How many miles are on your car.

My parts car with 300k miles had a ticking in the right side. I highly suspected one of the CV joints.

I think you have to keep looking.

Firstfives.org

Driveline tick, tick, ticking

Driveline tick, tick, ticking

Re: Driveline tick, tick, ticking

Tick?

Rubber needs to be changed...