https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5CbYq9aOr0Q&pp=ygUSTWF6ZGEzIGNyYWNrIGNsdW5r
2004 Mazda 3, 2.3L, auto, 215,000 miles. Replaced both axles (twice!) and lower control arms w ball joints (all Autozone or NAPA) all in 1 week, trying to fix this noise. Noise only when shift into D or R and only after giving a little throttle. Trans mount replaced too, rubber was cracked but not separated. Otherwise car drives quiet and smooth. But this noise doesn’t instill confidence! So I don’t drive far from home.
More than 1 mechanic scratching their head. One sez “Transmission”.
Help Scotty!
You didn't say anything about engine mounts. Have they been checked? How about the inner driver where the inner CV joints attach? If those are worn you can get a clunk when the transmission engages.
You could also try a gadget like the ones Scotty has demonstrated for finding car noises.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy5nqh3LSs4
inner driver?
Yes, the cups that the inner CV joint tripod go into wear and you wind up with a clunk. Common problem on old Saab 900s with very high mileage.
he said he replaced both axles. When I buy front axles, it's the whole thing.
Not all axles come with that part, on some cars it's part of the transaxle and remains in place when you change axles. I don't know if that's the case on his vehicle or not.
what???? so when the CV joint wears out (which is common) then you have to remove the transmission??
Who does this this so I can stay far away.
The housing is not normally replaced with the CV joint. It lasts for hundreds of thousands of miles at least when properly lubed. (I've put 400K miles on this kind of setup without problems.) If the housings do wear you don't have to remove the transmission, the housings can be removed pretty easily. In fact you can just swap them side to side since nearly all the wear will be in the forward direction. Not a big deal. If the Mazda is not made this way then it's not a concern in this case.
ok so its not really "part of the transaxle". Still seems easier to buy the whole thing than disassembling and reassembling CV joints. If you change the direction, then you'll get slop when decelerating instead of accelerating.
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Properly lubed: which cars from this millennium have axles that aren't sealed?
"which cars from this millennium have axles that aren't sealed?"
I have never owned a car built in this millenium, so I don't know. This setup goes back something like 40-50 years. I've never thought about it being unusual and not experienced a problem, but others have if they either don't lube the inner joint properly during axle replacement or don't notice the inner boot breaking.
Things aren't like they were 50 years ago. Manufacturing costs have plummeted, so parts are made to be cheap and disposable (or recyclable) .
Rebuilding parts isn't really worth anybody's time anymore (unless you have a facility and there are salvageable components).
Yes, we do live in a disposable society. I was actually just thinking that not only have I never owned a vehicle made this millenium, I've never even owned one that was designed after the early 1980s. So that axle construction is "normal" to me. However if that's no longer done and the original poster's vehicle is not made that way, it's my mistake and it's not anything he needs to worry about.
I would jack up the vehicle and have a helper do the shifting while I look at the engine, driveline, suspension. If nothing is moving or I can't see what's making the clank, then it's likely something internal to the transmission.
