Ever since the wreck a knocking/clicking noise has progressively gotten more common and louder. Sometimes I can hear it, sometimes I can't. I've isolated it to the driver's side rear wheel area. It sounds sort of like it's in sync with the driveshaft..but not really, it's not consistent. It's not a squeal or scratching noise. There is nothing wrong with the wheel or tire. I have noticed a welded plug or something next to my differential (bottom side) that is wet along with the area around it like there's a slight leak, but doesn't seem major. Also the vent for the passenger side axle (like a little cap on the top of the axle) seems to be bashing into my exhaust pipe that wraps over the axle when I hit big bumps (shitty shocks are to blame for this), as well as both axle tubes impacting the pipe themselves, leaving visible dents/scrapes in it. however I don't believe that is the source of the problem/noise, it sounds like a rotational piece...which limits it to a lot of different things. I jacked up the car, and the differential and put the car in N, spun the wheel and heard a variation of noise, first a real fast, light click, then a deeper more sporadic clunk coming from the axles/differential. Normal?

Really stumped on this and the noise is getting god damn annoying. I can't afford to replace axles so I'm really hoping I don't have to start spending big bucks repairing a piece of **** 7.5 rear. Right now I'm just going to replace my rear brake pads (there is some friction from them on the discs but that's not the prob); and then maybe open the diff cover to see if anything in there looks messed up..then probably pull the axles out and look at the wheel bearings. Other than that I have no idea what to look for.

Any ideas? Blow the car up?

 

I have no clue what it could be. From what I have seen almost every rear has a slight wet area around that cap your talking about, thats really nothing to worry about. I have my old 7.5 rear sitting in Stephen's back yard if you want it, I'll let it go super cheap. We can swap it in when you come down for the meet if your current rear end ends up not being worth the fix. Just let me know.

 

Had to diagnose. I would just start taking things apart and checking for anything bent, dented, scratched, out-of-round, general suck-assness. When you rotate the rear wheels by hand you shouldn't be hearing anything hit together, only the pads possibly rubbing on the rotors, the axle bearing, and the diff rotating and the gears rubbing together, not much play down there.