Black260z

So ive been driving my new car a lot lately, it has a few bugs, all easy fixes, but about 30 minutes before i got home today i started to notice a clunk coming from the rear end of the car.

From a stop, when I start to accelerate I hear the clunk, or when I'm slowing down and the car stops and sits back to its flat position it does the clunk again. You can feel it in your seat. As though the rear end is lose or shifting with the momentum of the car?

I dont know how the rear end is setup on this car, i havnt had it in the air yet. The clunk hasnt affected performance so far but I dont want it to get worse. suggestions welcome.

NismoPick

We have lots of threads on this...

It's either the diff mount or cv joint / half shaft.



EDIT... replaced "of" with "or."

nismo619

i have 1981 turbo complete rear end and i meen everything pumpkin a frame brakes if u want to try and swap it out ill sell u the complete set up for cheap im having to move now and make me a offer.,

entropy31

he does not need all that.

z-hag

check yer brakes, too.........sneaky devils........

Black260z

I think it would be the diff mount. It only clunks the once when you go, and once when you stop. There is no noise once the car is moving. Does anyone have a picture of this mount? I can compare it to mine and see how bad mine looks.

KasbeKZ

sounds to me like a strut bushing has rotted out. or if it has a rhyhm on turns and bumps it could be a U-Joint

NismoPick

Black260z

Where on the diff does it mount to the car? I'm use to my old chevy, this looks completely different. What part do I look at to see if it is worn out. Is it the 4 bolts holes at the top of the picture??

Texizgreat

Save about 200.00 and but the Poly Bushings for the whole car.

I had the same problem Stops starts and bumps I would get a horrible BANG.

I spent about 200.00 trying to find the problem Shocks, Breaks and so-on.

Look at the upper rear control arm bushings. Better yet jack the rear end up (the side you suspect to be worst) remove the tire. Grab the Drum and move it forward and backward. It should not be able to move by hand power. If it does move look not at the axle but at the control arm where it meets the Differential mounts. Thats where my problem was. One at the rear was not there and the front was paper thin. Once i peplaced those 4 bushings (2 each side) 99% of the noise from the rear was gone. All I hear now is normal squeaking from a 30 y/o car.

Eric

Black260z

I think I will buy this for the car, some of the bushings are looking old and could use replacing, so I'll replace them all! I found this set at work.

ENERGY SUSPENSION: E12710102G
BUSHING SET CONTAINS: FRONT & REAR CONTROL ARM, FRONT STRUT ROD, DIFFERENTIAL CARRIER, FRONT/REAR SWAY BAR, RACK & PINION, TRANS CROSS MEMBER AND STEERING COUPLER BUSHINGS, FRONT & REAR BUMP STOPS, FRONT & REAR END LINKS AND TIE ROD BOOTS $212.49

I have also decided to order in new half shafts and U-joints. I plan on spending over $1000-$1500 on having all of my steering/suspension replaced next spring. Theres no point doing it now if its getting stored in a week. Working at a parts stores gets me a lot of discounts

Texizgreat

Try this

http://www.blackdragonauto.com/icatalog/z/0041.asp

189.95 for the set of bushings with shipping 217.00

Black260z

That is also a good deal. The kit I found comes with front sway bar mount bushings though. The other kit does not. Mine is a little more expensive but relative because I'm getting more.

Black260z

I believe the clunk is from the Ujoint on the passenger side. Ive decided to change all the Ujoints and both half shafts. But here is the problem. The rear end in the car is not original. It appears that I have a R180 in the car but I cant tell for sure, the car is too low to really see anything. Is there a difference between half shafts on the R180 and R200? Or 1974 and 1979+?

The transmission is from a 280zx I think the differential is too. The shafts I found from my work are special order and "non-returnable" so I have to make sure I dont purchase the wrong parts. I can buy them from another store, but im getting a huge discount from my work so as long as I dont buy the wrong ones, im getting a deal.

NismoPick

Yep... there's a difference between R180 & R200 half shafts.

Black260z

good to know. Are all the shafts the same for every year, would the original 1974 R180 use the same shafts as a 1982 R180? Same questions for the R200, are the shafts the same for every year?

If they are, all I need to find out is if I have the R180 or R200, because I have no clue what year this diff or tranny is from.

NismoPick

You need to find out if you have an R180 or R200. I'm 99% sure you have an R180. See this thread: https://www.zdriver.com/forums/240z-260z-280z-s30-forums-9/differential-23665/

Black260z

Ok so I definitely have the R200. I can see the bottom of the diff. There is one bolt directly in the middle and the plug is female. The mustash bar is straight and the diff cover looks big and stick out pretty far.

The guy I purchased the car from said it had 37 gearing. But said the work was not performed by him, but a mechanic. So im assuming the transmission and diff both came from the same 280zx.

Is there any difference in the design of the half shafts between 1979 and 1983 for the R200?

Black260z

With the nice weather today I was determined to find the clunk. A guy from work told me to grab the half shafts, shake and twist them to find play in the ujoint or the shaft itself. I did this and neither one would budge. However, I did hear a sound from the back of the diff. when I shook the shafts. Almost like a clicking sound and it got louder if i shook harder.

I grabbed the mustashe bar right by the bushing, and i could pull the bar down about 1/2 inch. The bushings look toast but I wasnt hearings the click when I pulled down on them, only when I would shake the shafts.

I definitely have this bar / lower middle drain plug on my diff so it is the R200. I bought the bushing kit, but just incase there is anything else it would be before I ripped it apart I would like to find out now.

snwbrderphat540

the diff where it mounts up front is held with some bolts that can come loose to. also, you should have an R180 both the 200 and 180 have that rear mustache bar. but that should matter for bushings. my car clunks alot.... every shift actually... not sure why i got all new bushings except that front cross member i should check it out and get an RT mount and then im going to assume its my driveshaft U-joint. luckly i have a back up driveshaft its just lame to have to change it....

Black260z

Ok I will check out the bolts. My car does not clunk each shift, I notice it when I accelerate going forward or reverse. As I ease the clutch out and give it gas I hear a "thud". Like when you sit in an office chair, when you rock back far enough it makes a little clunk sound. Thats what it sounds like, except you can feel it in the driver seat.