Atom 3 Rear Driveline Noise

[timcking]

I drove up to the Ferrari/Shelby Club annual Virginia City hillclimb over the weekend. I noticed a speed-related 'growl' seemingly coming from the right rear wheel. Going around left hand corners seemed to make it worse, right hand ones it would be reduced.

After inspecting the rear half shafts, wheel bearings, and CV joints; it seems to be coming from the spline on the inner CV joint on the RH side half shaft. It's where the half shaft mounts to the RH intermediary shaft just right of the support bearing mounted to the engine. I'd guess this is a spline and it appears to be allowing the RH inner half shaft CV joint to move as a result of some play in the spline. I note some in the LH half shaft CV joint spline as well, but much less.

Does anyone know if this is normal. Now that I think about it, it's been making this noise for a long time. I previously thought it was tire noise, but that's obviously not the case.

I don't know what you'd do to correct this but replace the entire RH drive shaft and intermediary shaft.

Tim

[timcking]

I'm taking no response as no one has noticed this issue on their car?

[bolus]

The problem with the car is you hear a bunch of stuff you would never hear in a normal car. I've had some weird clicking sounds that I eventually attributed to the brake pads though there wasnt a problem. Just stuff I would not hear (and therefore not care) if I was in a sealed cabin

I would say that as long as the wheel bearing seems to be in good shape (no wobble when you try to move the tire when it is jacked up) and the half shaft is seated well (good torque on the axle nut and the spline is seated well in the transmission with no leak of trans fluid) then dont worry about it.

[timcking]

Thanks Bolus. I think you're right.