[Rootus]

Today I noticed that whenever I start moving in either direction, either from a stop or from rolling in the opposite direction, I get a pop from the left rear hub area. I'm fairly new to the AWD stuff (and anything with CV joints ), so I'm not sure what I'm hearing. Here is a rundown of what I've determined:

1. Happens only once, then doesn't happen again until a change in wheel rotation direction.
2. Forward or reverse, same sound either way.
3. Setting the e-brake and loading up the driveline causes the pop, but it takes a fair amount of force before it happens (it's not slop).
4. Only happens on the left side, right side is quiet.
5. Turning the wheels by hand while feeling the axle, it appears there is zero slop until you get internal to the differential, where there is a small amount.
6. The noise can be reproduced by hand with the car in the air by turning the wheel back and forth fairly hard.

My first thought was CV joint. Honestly, though, I'm not at all familiar with the failure symptoms for a CV joint. The other thought I had was perhaps something to do with the e-brake. Couple of days ago when I was doing brake pads I noticed that the left wheel was locked nicely by the e-brake, the right one was not. Since then I have not reproduced that particular behavior.

Thoughts? Surely there have been a number of failed CV joints in the time the STI has been out, so I'm hoping someone can tell me whether or not it sounds right.

Tomorrow I think I'll take it to the dealer, hopefully they won't deny coverage. I'm stage 2, but I don't abuse the car (no launches, never drag raced), and it seems unlikely something I did would break a CV joint.

Dave

[lackskill]

Kinda sounds like CV joints, but its a little harder to diagnose when you cant turn the wheel. I'd let the dealer screw with it...

[Rootus]

Originally Posted by lackskill

Kinda sounds like CV joints, but its a little harder to diagnose when you cant turn the wheel. I'd let the dealer screw with it...

Looks like that's about my only option. I hate letting the dealer touch my car .

I did some more research and my bet is inner CV joint, as that seems to be what the symptoms indicate. Grrr. I'd fix it myself except the axle assembly seems a bit pricey...

[bobbybouchet]

Did you ever find out what this was? I also noticed my rear passenger wheel is not locked when the parking brake is engaged while the driver's rear is locked.

[Unclejesus]

Id like to know this also as I am having pretty much the same problem. When I take off, from a dead stop going all the way left, the car reacts voliently and I have to give a lot of gas to prevent stalling.

[Misanthrope789]

bump..

sounds similar to me

[Draco-REX]

Replace and properly torque your axle nuts. There's a thread around here about it. Sounds like what you're hearing.

[stijon]

i had the same problem its the left front axle that has gone bad

[stijon]

seems like its not the axle after all the dealer can't find the problem

[gloc8_13]

Originally Posted by Unclejesus

Id like to know this also as I am having pretty much the same problem. When I take off, from a dead stop going all the way left, the car reacts voliently and I have to give a lot of gas to prevent stalling.

same here only happens once in a while though.

[Rootus]

I didn't realize this thread had gone active again recently. For anybody reading it, here is the conclusion (for my problem, at least): the axle nut was not properly torqued from the factory. This happened on the left side at about 25K miles (when I first made this thread). It happened to the right side as well later at 36K miles. Both fixed under warranty, neither has recurred since (up to 48K miles now). Worth noting is that according to the dealer, the left side nut had actually backed off a fraction of a turn (despite the lock), but the right side was still locked in the original position.

It's not a very common issue, and at the time of the second one happening to me I couldn't find another example where it had occurred to both rear axles on a single car.

[Turbineguy]

I'm currently having the same issue and have read about the axle nut torque problems. Does this require new nuts or just a retorque with new reatiners?

[resonant_evil]

for posterity,

you have to replace the axle nuts. the "retainer" and nut are one part, the same part.
i did the rear tonight, worked like a charm.

[LuVJuGGs]

I have been saying this a lot but the sound sounds like axle nut or rear endlink. rear endlinks r easy to check so do that first.

[Draco-REX]

Originally Posted by LuVJuGGs

I have been saying this a lot but the sound sounds like axle nut or rear endlink. rear endlinks r easy to check so do that first.

see post #11