Giving Up On 4kq Clunk

[James Marriott]

> Huw Powell wrote:
> >
> > > Ball joints and tie rods are good.  Stock setup.  Strut
cartridges are good.
> > >   Clunks when coming on and off accelerator.  Seems to come
from left rear.
> > > Sounds like something is hitting bottom of trunk.  Minimal
to no clunk when
> > > differentials are locked.  I've been under the car while it
was on a lift
> > > with someone making it clunk using the accelerator and
switching from 1st to
> > > reverse.  Nothing moves much at all.  This is my second
4kq.  I bought it on
> > > eBay because the owner said it didn't clunk.
> >
> > yah, sounds like play in the rear diff.  grab both rear axles
and see
> > how much you can rotate them against each other, and with
each against
> > the center driveshaft with diff locked and unlocked.  see if
you can
> > make the "clunk" by hand... if you still feel like it, that
is!
>
> How is this remedied ? What are the usual suspects ?

Put the rear up on stands and lock the center diff. Get under the
car with your body parallel to the driveshaft. Using one hand per
tire, violently turn both wheels in the same direction at the
same time until you run up against the center diff. Wherever the
play is should be visible and/or audible. The rear subframe's
front bushings are often suspect.

cu, James Marriott
'87 4kq (alias "late-B2 90q") with rare NG engine, 181k
'89 200q (MC1, ProconTen/no bag, 1.8 blah blah), 132k
Boise, ID, USA     http://www.webpak.net/~marriott/