welded diff making knocking sound when turning

[zbarsuglia]

Alright, to start off I noticed this noise a week ago..

When driving straight its perfectly fine no noises or anything out of the ordinary. But I have noticed that say, when turning on the on-ramp to the freeway I hear whats seems to be a knocking sound..

This happens ONLY when turning... I have yet to take a look underneath, but when I get it on my friends lift where the hell am I supposed to look for the knocking when it only makes the noise when turning..

Thanks in advance!

[DJPimpFlex]

It's probably your subframe flopping around. Solid bushings.

[hOngsterr]

do you have a s14/j30 etc pumpkin welded on a s13?

i had that same problem, found out i had a s14 pumpkin on a s13 and bought solid diff bushings and it fixed it. (Check out if your diff has 2 giant holes where it mounts to the diff or if its solid like a stock s13)

[yetijeff]

Welded diffs are noisy. That's just how it is. Especially when in parking lots etc. think about it. Your tires are fighting each other. If ur subframe bushings are worn, or your not sure, a welded diff will let u know real quick. Get the collars (jimmy rigged) or replace them with new or solids. Could possibly be your control arm bushings as well...

[!Zar!]

Chances are it is your subframe moving around. Solid bushings would be best. Aluminum collars are pretty sufficient in helping lessen the movement.

[zbarsuglia]

It's probably your subframe flopping around. Solid bushings.

Was looking into some prior to getting a welded... guess its time lol

do you have a s14/j30 etc pumpkin welded on a s13?

i had that same problem, found out i had a s14 pumpkin on a s13 and bought solid diff bushings and it fixed it. (Check out if your diff has 2 giant holes where it mounts to the diff or if its solid like a stock s13)

It's on my 14

Welded diffs are noisy. That's just how it is. Especially when in parking lots etc. think about it. Your tires are fighting each other. If ur subframe bushings are worn, or your not sure, a welded diff will let u know real quick. Get the collars (jimmy rigged) or replace them with new or solids. Could possibly be your control arm bushings as well...

I'll go ahead check both control arm bushings and subframe bushings. Thanks

Chances are it is your subframe moving around. Solid bushings would be best. Aluminum collars are pretty sufficient in helping lessen the movement.

Solid bushing it is then!

[shogun!]

Very basic information about reason why

How a Differential Works and Types of Differentials - YouTube (http://youtube.com/watch?v=gIGvhvOhLHU)

[zbarsuglia]

Very basic information about reason why

How a Differential Works and Types of Differentials - YouTube (http://youtube.com/watch?v=gIGvhvOhLHU)

I don't know what the purpose of that link was for seeing as that I didn't ask how a diff works and what different types there are.

[shogun!]

The purpose is to show that with a locked diff, the rotation has to go somewhere when car is turning and it does so by slipping inner tyre and flexing of all bushings in driveline/subframe/links.

[thefro526]

When I had my first welded diff, I heard some of the same noises that you're talking about. At first, the rear was relatively (reasonably) smooth and made a very quiet but audible 'chirp' sound at low speeds. After a few months of driving, the rear began to make more of a 'clunk, clunk, clunk' noise during any type of small radius turning, and generally felt sort of like crap.

In my case, my subframe bushings were shot, allowing the entire subframe to move as the tires needed to 'scrub' to overcome the differing turning speeds.

Since your car is an S14, you should also check the differential bushings in the diff at the same time as the subframe bushings, since one of the two could be the root of the problem. If it doesn't turn out to be either of those, then like others said, it's probably some other bushing in the rear end.

[zbarsuglia]

The purpose is to show that with a locked diff, the rotation has to go somewhere when car is turning and it does so by slipping inner tyre and flexing of all bushings in driveline/subframe/links.

Damn, my bad. I got impatient with the video and kept skipping forward and was like wtf is this? Lol thank you though

When I had my first welded diff, I heard some of the same noises that you're talking about. At first, the rear was relatively (reasonably) smooth and made a very quiet but audible 'chirp' sound at low speeds. After a few months of driving, the rear began to make more of a 'clunk, clunk, clunk' noise during any type of small radius turning, and generally felt sort of like crap.

In my case, my subframe bushings were shot, allowing the entire subframe to move as the tires needed to 'scrub' to overcome the differing turning speeds.

Since your car is an S14, you should also check the differential bushings in the diff at the same time as the subframe bushings, since one of the two could be the root of the problem. If it doesn't turn out to be either of those, then like others said, it's probably some other bushing in the rear end.

Ok they will all be checked within the next week

Thank you guys for your help

[Jites]

Ive got solid diff, subframe and rose jointed arms. the rose joints were all replaced earlier this year and made it better as there was play but its still noisy.

Then noise as mentioned above is the diff fighting itself, there is no real fix for this really as you are putting way more stress into the drivetrain. Although i found tyre compound and wheel spacing to make a difference. crappy tyres with 40psi and as spaced out as possible seem to reduce the effect and less spacing with grippy tyres increase it but thats my personal experience so it may differe i dont know but give it a shot once you replace your bushes

[h2v7]

if your rear of car is weak a welded diff will show ya of that real quick