Technical Ticking noise when changing gears at low revs when clutch 'bites'

[neonglow]

Hi guys, it's been a while since I last visited the forum. For a long time I've had a strange problem where the whole car/engine started shaking under load when I reach the 80km/h mark, when I accelerate further the shaking stops. I changed the inner cv joints/'cups' with some used ones from an old fiat brava 1.4 (they're the same on lots of fiats) and the problem disappeared for a while (3000kms) but it is now back again with the added mystery of this strange ticking noise when putting into first gear and taking off. These are the parts that I changed:

This sound is also notable while driving slowly around town. When I change gears - 3th to 4th and press on the accelerate pedal I can clearly hear it again. It seems to appear while shifting gears in the moment where the clutch bites and the engine's under load... I hope that makse some sense. The sound is like steel balls falling onto a sheet of metal, or a shaking can of steel/bearing balls. Has anyone experienced anything like that?

 

[richydraper]

sounds like CV joints... Usually get the outers going before the inners.

Good way to test it is finding an empty expanse of flat ground... A supermarket car park or similar... Slowly drive round on full lock it should make a right racket! If You Cant hear anything and your positive all 4 of the CV joints are good then i would heavily be suspecting clutch

 

[MarkThompson4]

I have a very similar problem with mine, albeit I've not driven it for a while I did drive it with the noise for some time. I get it when I'm accelerating from a standstill going through first and second. After that it's fine, doesn't affect the driveability of the car though. It also seems that the more clutch you use when pulling away has an affect on how loud it is. I changed my clutch nearly 12 months ago but onlyy driven maybe 5-6 of them so I rule that out. I'm pretty sure the noise is a cv joint, drivers side I reckon.

When was your clutch last chenged?

Check to see if any of the cv boots have tears in them, this would allow the grease to come out and lead to a ****ed cv joint

 

[neonglow]

Thanks for the responses

sounds like CV joints... Usually get the outers going before the inners.

Good way to test it is finding an empty expanse of flat ground... A supermarket car park or similar... Slowly drive round on full lock it should make a right racket! If You Cant hear anything and your positive all 4 of the CV joints are good then i would heavily be suspecting clutch

I'll try the car park test. My previous car had the same problem and I know that noise while turning, however this one is different, is like bearing balls under some pressure that tick in their housing, I think that's the best description I can give. I really hope the clutch's not gone.. but will see.

I have a very similar problem with mine, albeit I've not driven it for a while I did drive it with the noise for some time. I get it when I'm accelerating from a standstill going through first and second. After that it's fine, doesn't affect the driveability of the car though. It also seems that the more clutch you use when pulling away has an affect on how loud it is. I changed my clutch nearly 12 months ago but onlyy driven maybe 5-6 of them so I rule that out. I'm pretty sure the noise is a cv joint, drivers side I reckon.

When was your clutch last chenged?

Check to see if any of the cv boots have tears in them, this would allow the grease to come out and lead to a ****ed cv joint

I changed the boots and grease recently when I changed those 'cups' but the clutch's never been changed. It now has 150 000 kms on the clock. It showed 40 000 when I bought it, I hope that's the real milage

 

[MarkThompson4]

Well by my reckoning I see two things it could be now:

1. The cup was changed, but were the little "balls" of the cv joint also changed?
2. I'd be changing that clutch asap

 

[richydraper]

CV joints dont really make rattling sounds like you say. They generally have a light tick or knock sound... In your first post you describe it as 'like steel balls falling
onto a sheet of metal, or a shaking can of steel/bearing balls' im kinda worried for you that your release bearing has collapsed and you have stuff whizing round in your bellhousing OR the pressure plate has failed in some way... Either way bud Its new clutch time should be in the regions of about GBP£150-200.

Its best to get it checked out sooner rather than later too else those ball bearings could get picked up by the clutch or flywheel and cause a severe amount of damage! Ive seen bell housings cut in half due to bearing collapse and it aint cheap to put right

 

[neonglow]

CV joints dont really make rattling sounds like you say. They generally have a light tick or knock sound... In your first post you describe it as 'like steel balls falling
onto a sheet of metal, or a shaking can of steel/bearing balls' im kinda worried for you that your release bearing has collapsed and you have stuff whizing round in your bellhousing OR the pressure plate has failed in some way... Either way bud Its new clutch time should be in the regions of about GBP£150-200.

Its best to get it checked out sooner rather than later too else those ball bearings could get picked up by the clutch or flywheel and cause a severe amount of damage! Ive seen bell housings cut in half due to bearing collapse and it aint cheap to put right

I know the sound when the wheel side cv joint's gone, it deffinately rattles quite differently while turning. However, as I said this sound is something else. It's like pressure between two parts that's being released as I take off and the driveshaft have to manage with the higher torque of first gear and the clutch being half-pressed. It sounds like small parts rattling, like bearing balls or something like that as I said. So - first thing to change - inner cv joints, cups and tripod bearings.. if not cured - clutch. Thanks for the responses guys I'll report back with a solution

 

[richydraper]

always check the cheaper stuff first bud!