318ti.org forum - View Single Post - Clicking noise in rear end...cv joint? diff? wheel bearing?

bimmerboi318 · 08-25-2004, 12:07 AM

well, i put the car on the lift yesterday and put it in 3rd and ran it while i inspected under it. the clunking was very noticable doing this and seemed to be coming from the front of the diff (UGHHH). upon further inspection (with the car NOT running) i found some play in the rear universal joint on the driveshaft. enough to make some noise. well i thought "phew, what a relief" until i remembered reading that the universals are not servicable...i need a new driveshaft. i felt around and didnt notice any play on the pinion shaft on the diff, although i cant be 100% sure there's no problem in it. i noticed some scraping noise from the sides of the diff, where the carrier bearings are, using a stethescope...but who knows how long its been doing that or if its normal.

so...my planned actions

1. replace driveshaft and hope it fixes noise

2. if it doesnt, replace diff...with a 3.90:1 lsd

08-25-2004, 12:07 AM	#3
bimmerboi318 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 290 iTrader: (0) Photo Gallery	well, i put the car on the lift yesterday and put it in 3rd and ran it while i inspected under it. the clunking was very noticable doing this and seemed to be coming from the front of the diff (UGHHH). upon further inspection (with the car NOT running) i found some play in the rear universal joint on the driveshaft. enough to make some noise. well i thought "phew, what a relief" until i remembered reading that the universals are not servicable...i need a new driveshaft. i felt around and didnt notice any play on the pinion shaft on the diff, although i cant be 100% sure there's no problem in it. i noticed some scraping noise from the sides of the diff, where the carrier bearings are, using a stethescope...but who knows how long its been doing that or if its normal. so...my planned actions 1. replace driveshaft and hope it fixes noise 2. if it doesnt, replace diff...with a 3.90:1 lsd __________________ Vince Carknard 1995 318ti Active Hellrot, 16" 5 spoke, "Fogged" airbox mod, Stromung exhaust, Bilstein Sports, BMW sport springs, 3.73lsd, others...