I have recently been working on my new V6 3.4L camaro i bought. Ive noticed that when i drive, it makes a very loud knocking noise thats coming from right under the center console. It sounds like the driveshaft but im not sure. Also, the knocking sound progesses and gets faster as the car goes faster. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

does it do it when the car is not moving. im thinking the carier bearing is failing. u have a two piece drive shaft and theres a bearing in the middle of the shaft assembly just behind the console area that bolted and hangs from the body frame. u can pick up a one piece driveshaft or have the carrier bearing replaced and, if bad, the universal joints. have a look around for a one piece, see whats available u may even find a aluminum one for cheap.

 

It only makes the noise when i start driving. I was going to put in a one piece driveshaft but i wanted to find out some more info on it.

 

ok then i would say its the carrier bearing or the ujoints at the carrier bearing. should have a look at the trans mount as well.

 

the u joints and carrier bearings seem fine and so do the tranny mounts. I decided to pull the cover off the differential and found out that five teeth from my pinion gear were broken. Is it possible to change the pinion with the axle still mounted to the car? If so, what do i need to do?

 

oh boy. so it was coming from farther back. for a experianced mechanic its a pain to do ring and pinion changes. i wont do them myself, to easy to mess em up. so the answer is yes u can change the gears without taking the whole defferencial out. u will need to clean and inspect all the bearings for damage from the busted steel floating around in the oil. will need to chang ring and pinion gears. it would be easier and most likely cost much less to find a complete rear unit at a wrecking yard.

 

Ok thanks. I decided im just gonna remove the whole axle and replace it. Can you give me a list of what i have to do to remove the axle?

 

not hard. need to get the rear up in the air and block or support it with jackstands. u will want to support the axle before u take the driveshaft, shocks, panhard bar, and control arms lose. unplug the wires to the abs and traction control if u have it and remove the brake lines. it should drop right out. u will want a axle (differential) assembly that has the same abs and or traction control as yours. if u have traction control there will be a wire to each wheel if u have only abs then there will be a wire to the center section.

 

almost forgot. u may have drum brakes and standard or open rearend on the car. if so now would be a good time to convert to a posi rearend with disc brakes.

 

Ok so i have everything jacked up now and the wheels are off. How do i turn the driveshaft to get all four bolts off to disconnect it from the differential?