I've searched for this topic, but nothing really specifically addresses this problem.
96 200sx SE-R
I just had an inspection at a less than top notch (but cheap) mechanic, who replaced my right axle and strut, and also changed the oil (per my request). I did some minor driving for two days, and didn't really get out onto the highway until today. Of course I was blaring music until I got to my destination, so I don't hear anything unusual except for a slight momentary squeel at one point I assumed was just another car or something.
When I get to my destination (the mall) I'm driving slowly around the parking lot and an abnoxious grinding/squeeling/chattering noise is coming from the center-right side from under the car. Its not as loud or hard as the sound of grinding when changing gears too late, a little more subtle and sloppy. I also notice that the transmission seems to be acting strangely, kind of crunching or grinding, and causing the car to sort of stutter instead of coasting. It has no effect whatsoever on the way the engine runs.
The car goes into gear fine, and the clutch doesn't seem to be rough, its only after I get into gear and get going the noise and the grinding starts, which kind of makes me think it can't be the clutch. I really don't know though.
NOTE: Since I bought the car about six months ago, it has been having a problem in which I sometimes put it in reverse, and it doesn't get all the way into gear and kind of chatters/grinds without moving. I just let off the clutch and pull it a little harder into reverse and the problem stops though. This same chattering/grinding noise is very similar to the noise I'm hearing now, but just a lot more obnoxious and sloppy sounding.
So my question is this: I describe a lot of this as comng from the transmission, but honestly I have no idea, I'm really hoping its just coming from the new axle. I want to take the car back and demand them to fix what they screwed up, and I hope its just the new axle. Could I have a bad transmission on my hands or just a bad axle? If the transmission is crapped out, could that be caused by a faulty axle replacement?
First off the reverse problem is normal due to straight cut gears for reverse, now with the noise, Im assuming the noise changes with the speed of the car, does it sound different in any other gears, or when you make any turns?
The reverse is normal. If you slowly let out the clutch and give it gas to move it will pop in completely with no problem.
As for pinpointing it.. Id first take it back and tell them to check it over because its acting up. The mechanic most likely either took a shortcut and it fucked up or he just forgot something. Also you could always try (since you said it happens at slow speeds) have someone outside of the car walking along side it to pinpoint the sound. Could even keep the hood up. Of course make sure its in a empty area like a parking lot of a closed shop.
Yeah I took it back to the mechanic yesterday, and of course the problem miraculously went away on the way to the place. Of course the guy said he didn't see anything wrong with it, but I told him to take off the wheel and check it anyway. Waited all day, then finally after no phonecall all day, I call them and find out they had to order a whole new axle because they effed it up.
Strange grinding/squeeling in all gears?
Linear Mode
