S14 Continuous clunking/knocking coming from rear only on acceleration/load - *video

[keeeban]

25B4SFZWDRs

Noise seems to be coming from the rear driver's side and also felt under the driver's seat. Sounds like something constantly hitting or rattling another thing only under load
This only started happening right after swapping the rear subframe bushings for energy suspension polyurethanes, and swapping the drivers side rear axle for a good used one. Had never heard this kind of noise before. Car has a vlsd as well.

This noise does not appear when off the gas, or in neutral; only when on the gas. Sound is slower at lower speeds, but the sound speeds up if I put the gas pedal to the floor. More apparent at lower rpms, sound gets faster and louder when gas pedal gets mashed to the floor. At higher rpms in 1st and 2nd gear, sound is less apparent and seems to go away. No sound upon braking, or coming to a stop. ONLY when on the gas, the sound appears. Since it sounds like a rotating sound the only things I can think of are the hub, wheel bearing, axle, diff, or driveshaft. But before swapping the subframe bushings and drivers side axle, things were fine.

After some diagnosing, rear driver's side RUCA heim joint is worn, and causes the wheel to have play by pulling when the car is jacked up, which could also be the wheel bearing/hub, or both, but it's hard to pinpoint this clunking noise only coming from a bad heim joint/wheel bearing, but I guess it may be possible due to the rear squatting and causing stress to the joint? Will definitely be replacing the cheapo godspeed rucas asap, but would like any input on what else this noise can result from.

Axles are all bolted up tight, driveshaft seems fine, and no excessive play in the axle shafts & driveshaft. This noise only appeared after changing the subframe bushings and the rear driver's side axle.

Will be swapping the differential bushings as soon as midterms are over next week since those are definitely worn as well.

Hopefully, the noise is just coming from the diff bushings as 'aznpoopy' had a similar problem in his thread back in 06:

http://zilvia.net/f/tech-talk/112116-rear-clunking-under-load.html
(http://zilvia.net/f/tech-talk/112116-rear-clunking-under-load.html)
I was going to PM him to see if this is the same noise he had, but he hasn't been on since 2011, so i'm making this thread to get more input from the more experienced members.

Thanks in advance for any help

[jamg]

check the bolts on the axles to the diff.

[keeeban]

Bolts are tight, but if they were loose I would think there would be noise even off the gas, no?

I'll double check all the bolts when I get the chance on friday

[blktopsr20]

Hubs are bad. That was the same exact sound mines made that i've been ignoring for years and finally replaced them before i sold the car. It made my daily commute alot quieter for sure. I kinda missed driving with that noise since it keeps me awake all the time :)

Clunking noise is made by bad subframe bushings. They are more noticeable when braking.

[S14Driftr91]

This past summer I put the energy subframe and diff bushings in my s14 and I have a sound now as well, not quite the exact sound you're getting, but similar. It does sound as if the drive shaft is loose, like its bouncing around but it isnt. I've checked multiple times. The noise I get though, is when I'm coasting along, not under load. On my car I have a vlsd, stance coils, with stance rucas, all other arms are stock. I thought it may be my hub as well but I dont see how that could be it when my car never made a single noise like this before. It's been frustrating me all winter long.

[polar951]

I've had this problem too. Happened when my car was bone stock and would only be on acceleration. I recently checked the axles and everything else and it all seemed fine, no play at all. Maybe i'll look into the hubs. It only happens every now and then but i have the same exact problem

[zerodameaon]

Is your car slammed? Saw this the other day with a S14, car was so low the rear sway bar was hitting the diff on that ring where the drive shaft hooks up.

[keeeban]

Hubs are bad. That was the same exact sound mines made that i've been ignoring for years and finally replaced them before i sold the car. It made my daily commute alot quieter for sure. I kinda missed driving with that noise since it keeps me awake all the time :)

Clunking noise is made by bad subframe bushings. They are more noticeable when braking.
Yeah the wheel bearing/hub has play too along with the ruca heim joint.. will look into replacing that too. No clunking on braking, just that knocking noise on accel

Is your car slammed? Saw this the other day with a S14, car was so low the rear sway bar was hitting the diff on that ring where the drive shaft hooks up.
Yeah it's fairly low, but I've been at the same height before I did the subframe bushings and axle and it didn't make that noise before. Pretty sure everything is bolted up tightly so I don't think it can be that but i'll give it a look

[silvia303]

having the same exact problem! please keep me updated if you find out the problem thanks!

[cotbu]

just curious, is that your check engine light on?
jack the car up securely and put it in gear, apply throttle. I shouldn't have to say "take caution" but you're 20! This will help you isolate the noise. unless you already determined the location and sound.

[keeeban]

hahaha yeah, i've isolated the sound/area. Will get to working on it as soon as midterms are done with so I'll update it as I go along. No worries on the cel though, just a bad knock sensor i've been lagging on fixing.

[godsmack]

Are you sure that you have no play in your axles? That sounds like a bad u-joint. And by play I mean by twisting the axle if one spins before the tire you got a bad joint and it'll make that same sound only on accel. Do you feel any vibrations in the transmission?

[silvertable58]

i have the exact same noise . happen after i got a rear wheel alignment. mods in rear are coilovers rear camber ajustable and rear toes adjustable.

[keeeban]

oops forgot to post. after replacing the rear driver's side axle as well as the rucas, the noise went away.

[2fastandfurious]

So was it the Rucas all alone or the axle? I have the same issue >.<

[princequeeley]

I'm having a similar problem, I'm replacing the axle tomorrow to see if it goes away

[s14Art]

I'm having a similar problem, I'm replacing the axle tomorrow to see if it goes away

Did it go away? I need to change mine soon as well.

[princequeeley]

Axle bearings had chewed themselves completely up, lol it was a easy fix only to find out my pressure play was loose, held on by only three bolts. Previous owner was a young kid that cut corners