Rear Driveshaft Noise at 12k miles
 

I could use some help. I just hit 12k miles and about two nights ago, my passenger and I noticed a strange sound coming from the rear passenger side of the car when accelerating from a stop.

The noise sounds like a tin can vibration and occurs when engaging into first (or reverse). The sound also only appears when the car is cold; I am unable to duplicate the noise if the car is completely warmed up. The exhaust is tight and is not the issue. I am concerned that it may be one of the U joints or something else on the axle that is worn. Could it possibly be a drive shaft issue?

The sound has not occurred in 12k miles so I don't think it can be considered one of the normal quirks of the Z. I read elsewhere on the forum about a few other people with this issue, but no resolutions were made.

Thanks for reading.

This alone would be hard to say what it is for sure. Maybe get under the car with it running cold and listen. I do know there's a small tin sheild under the car that is below the drivshaft. It's about mid ways. I'm not sure whats its for. When removing my exhaust I bent it slightly. But molded it back. It's very thin and can be manipulated with just a finger. Just a suggestion of what maybe to look for.

Thanks for the suggestion Spohn. The noise ONLY occurs when engaging into 1st gear or reverse from a stop. I think it has something to do with the load being applied to the drive train or else some sort of vibration in the drive shaft.

I could see that being first and reverse are geared low. Weird things happen when there cold. Do you know if are U-joints have grease fittings? I won't be around my car till tomorrow morning.

I think they do have grease fittings. Check out this thread... no resolution, but the member has a similar issue. I can't imagine that it is normal considering it has not presented itself for the first 12k miles of driving. It has to be some sort of wear...

http://www.the370z.com/engine-drivet...port-here.html

There are a couple of issues mention there. Makes me want to lean towards a maintence issue due to wear. Which would be warrenty issue as stated. It could never hurt to grease the rear axle or u-joints. Anytime I've heard of poping noise it would be the axles due to binding of some sort. But we can't subject are self to one thing only.

Would the springs possibly cause extra wear on the axle joints? I still need to do the alignment and wonder if the additional negative camber could stress the axle/wheel joint.

I doubt it.

any update JJ?

Im getting a clunking sound when the car moves in 1st or reverse also. 17k on the clock, I had the swift springs for a few months, and the clunk just started a few weeks ago :(

I had a vibration on my rear view mirror and after several attempts at fixing it by the dealer (new front tires, tightening the mirror, road force balancing) they figured out it was the drive shaft. The car had less than 5k miles.

Now at 10k miles i was hearing a whirling noise coming from the rear. Took it to the dealership and they are replacing the drive shaft again.
That could be the problem