NigelR Posted January 17, 2005 Share Posted January 17, 2005 I have an ex-Caterham Academy car (2004) with less than 3,000 miles which seems to make a strange clicking noise from the rear axle. You can only really hear it at low speed or if you lift off from any speed certainly from 50 mph. The only thing I can equate it to is it sounds like the something in the spoke of a kids bicycle wheel, but a bit duller. The clicks reduce marginally as the speed reduces. Anyone got any clues what it might be? I have taken the wheel off and nothing looks obvious. There is possibly a very small amount of play with the wheel attached, not sure how much there should be. Thanks for any clues or tips Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wonkey eyed barmaid Posted January 17, 2005 Share Posted January 17, 2005 you could have debris of some kind inside the diff housing, rattling around amongst the rotating diff teeth. this would explain why the noise changes frequency with speed. if there is something in there - its bad news, as it will be damaging the teeth on the CW or the pinion. not good. i had a tooth on the CW of my live axle diff break off once. i ddint know that at the time; i just had a loud mechanical clicking noise. but i had a 30 mile drive home... by the time i got home it sounded like gravel in a cement mixer! i removed the diff to find all the teeth chipped and blunted, a couple of teeth sheared off altogether, and a pile of broken shards in the bottom of the diff housing. luckily the diff was not too expensive to replace - and i took the opportunity to change the ratio. if its not this - then sorry to scare you 😳 OR have you jacked the car up and checked around the propshaft universal joints? with all the debris on the road, its possible you picked up a twig or a chunk of cable or something, which is whirring round and hitting the sides of the transmission tunnel... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caterhamnut Posted January 17, 2005 Share Posted January 17, 2005 Screw or small stone/nail in the tyre? Only hear it when the engine noise is reduced - slows down/speeds up? Worth a check... Big update! here 77,777miles in 3 years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coose Posted January 17, 2005 Share Posted January 17, 2005 Or a lolly stick in your spokes? We will mend it We will fix it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NigelR Posted January 18, 2005 Author Share Posted January 18, 2005 Thanks for the tips so far - any more thoughts welcome Re: the current ideas - I hope it isn't the diff! I could live with the lollypop stick until the elastic band broke. I did have a quick look at the tyres which seemed clear but worth a double check. It sounded a duller metallic clunk than you would from something stuck in a tyre. I guess I'm tempted to try and jack it up and see if it makes the same noise with the wheels in freewheel. Not keen on it falling off the jack though and ramming into the garage! Where's the best place to stick axle stands without doing any damage? (Apart from a bouncy castle ) 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Day Posted January 18, 2005 Share Posted January 18, 2005 Have a look here: http://7faq.com/owbase/ow.asp?HowDoI%2FJackUpMyCar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted January 18, 2005 Share Posted January 18, 2005 Where's the best place to stick axle stands without doing any damage? Under the DD tube, just inboard of the wheels. Project Scope-Creep is underway... Alcester Racing 7's Equipe - 🙆🏻™ Alcester-Racing-Sevens.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlesElliott Posted January 18, 2005 Share Posted January 18, 2005 Handbrake cable rubbing on the propshaft? Propshaft bolt loose (seen a few of these on Academy cars)? Charles --- My Roadsports B 2005 diary My Caterham Academy 2004 build and race diary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlesElliott Posted January 18, 2005 Share Posted January 18, 2005 Other question I should ask is whose car was it? Maybe we can shed some light on it's history 😬 😬 😬 Charles --- My Roadsports B 2005 diary My Caterham Academy 2004 build and race diary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NigelR Posted January 19, 2005 Author Share Posted January 19, 2005 I will have to have another little play this weekend (barring snow) and see what I can discover Thanks for the clues (the car competed in the scottish academy series) I will let you know if I can work out what it is Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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