Clicking Sound

[alero546]

I am desperately looking for some opinions on my Camry. It is a 95 Camry LE 2.2L with 120k miles. I bought from a private party 2 months ago. I flushed the transmission fluid and got a new oil change.

Recently there has been a clicking noise that I have been hearing. It is NOT continuous. It mainly happens when I come to stop sign, brake, stop. Then accelerate normally. I hear a fairly louck click about .5 seconds after I start accelerating. It clicks just once. I then keep accelerating until it goes into 2nd gear and sometimes it clicks there too. Seems to be coming from wheel area, not sure left or right side, could be middle.

It is not the engine mounts and my brake caliper were serviced recently.

Anyone have any ideas?

When I did my frist oil change, the guy said I should replace my front differential. Think this might be the problem?

[Curry]

Usually those click noises are a sign of your CV joints gone wrong.

[alero546]

I actually had a CV boot go bad, and they replaced the entire axle. This was the day I got it checked out before I bought it.

Wouldn't a CV join going bad cause a continuall clicking? I only hear 1 loud click right when I am starting to accelerate and then again when shifts into 2nd. Its not a continual click like I explained in my first post.

[Venom_5]

be more specific

is it a click, a thud, or what

a thud would be from the tranny/diff, a click would be from the cv joint ... for example

[alero546]

No thud. It is a noticible click. Kind of a high pitched sound if you were to hit two metal rods together, but not a thud. I don't notice any driving issues going straight or while turning. The mechanic drove with me for 10 minutes and said it was the brake caliper. He drove it and serviced them, but still the same problem. He didn't notice any other problems.

When I hear a second click, it happens when the car shifts gears into second. After that, no clicking.

I really doubt its the transmission. Shifts great, transmission fluid flushed very recently. Sounds amazing, no vibration when going 80 mph.

Like I mentioned, when I got my oil changed about 2 months ago, my guy said my front differential needs repair. I kind of brushed it on my shoulders and didn't think it was a problem. Could it be it?

[Venom_5]

its possible, however i would check the CV's and Axles in the front ... there are 4 boots total, 2 on each side ... check to see if they are torn or worn

[alero546]

Wouldn't the mechanic had to have noticed it when he was servicing the calipers. He probably lifted it up and had to have taken the wheel off. A torn CV boot is easy to spot, but I'll take a look myself.

I believe a broken axle would cause a click click click sound when driving, not a 1 click when accelerating from braking and then another when shifting in 2nd.

Either way, I appreciate your reply, its very helpful.

[davemac2]

A single click like this is usually something like the brake calipers or pads as the mech suspected, or it could be something in the suspension on that side, or not as likely though: something with the half shaft/CV on that side.

Potential Causes:

Brakes:

a) wrong pads or shims
b) loose caliper mount on hub.
c) broken caliper pin.

Suspension:

a) bad strut mount.
b) broken spring.
c) broken or loose ball joint, sway bar linkages or linkage connection plate on lower control arm.

Wheels:

a) broken wheel stud.

Half Axle:

a) excessive play in the joint. Should be able to check this by lifting the wheel on that side and in neutral, move wheel forward and back and compare the differential and CV play with the other side.

Another possibility is a motor mount, either the trans mount on the driver's side, the front mount, or maybe even your dogbone mount on top near the front passenger area if you have one. The dogbones usually do go and can sometimes cause this sound with the engine torquing from standing stops or gear changes. If it is gone, you can easily see it when inspected. Try holding the brake firmly and reving the engine up a bit while in drive to torque the engine and see if you can reproduce the sound consitently that way.

dave mc

[alero546]

So what is my plan of action? Do I go back to the mechanic and tell him to look at all these potential problems? If it is the dog bone, how important is it be fixed?

I'll try what you suggested about torqueing my engine and see if I can reproduce the sound.

Thanks for your detailed response!

[Venom_5]

i wouldnt bring it to a mechanic unless he'll diagnose it for FREE ... otherwise you can spend alot of money and not have a solution

take the wheels off [have a tq wrench handy] and inspect the suspension parts yourself ... engine mounts and even strut mounts can click as well

[alero546]

davemac2,

I tried what you suggested, applying the brake firmly and revving it. I did this in both reverse and drive and revving produced the sound about 3-4 straight times and would then stop. I believe I had my front mount changed, but where/how do I find the dogbone to visually inspect it and what would I look for? I believe I definitely have one. Wouldn't this also cause intense shaking at high speed. As I mentioned above, I can go 80 and it feels great, no virbation AT all.

Thanks in advance.

[Venom_5]

the dogbone on the 4cyl is to the right of the valve cover [where the 4 spark plug wires are....] its all teh way past the valve cover, to the left of the belts

you cant miss it

[alero546]

I took some pictures that might help diagnose the problem. Looks like if what I found is the dog bone...looks like the inner rubber is very worn out.

I tried to take a movie, but it didn't turn out well. When I had my friend revv it, the engine movied forward and back, forward and back as he was reving and the click was coming from beneath. I believe the clicking my be because the engine is moving and something is hitting something...

I could not find the rear mount. Probably hidden underneath all the parts.

Link to pictures.

http://picasaweb.google.com/gmats85/Car

[Venom_5]

yup, thats ur dogbone mount

the rear mount is a pain in the ass to reach ... i dont ever go near them myself, but i know there are a few guys here that have

oh, and you need to seriously clean your engine bay - it would help you see what the heck is going on in there

[alero546]

So do you think my dog bone is the problem? If so, how serious is it for me to fix it immediately?

What do you mean clean the engine bay? I've been slowly taking a rag and cleaning little by little some of the parts. It was much dirtier when I bought it 2 months ago. What is the best way for me to clean it?