Unidentified noise???

[scatz]

Hi all,

Saw Tone yesterday re fitting clutch etc and asked him to have a wee sit in the car to see if he could identify a noise I get. It was concluded that pads moving in their carriers was probably the culprit, however, although this may well be the case for what we heard then, I have definately got a noise which appears to be coming from the propshaft/gearbox/clutch area.......

....it's a loud click/clack/crack (choose either!!) and seems to happen when I lift off the clutch! Perhaps it's the clutch release bearing I thought but, can't be as it also happens when I haven't touched the clutch....for instance; I'll be in 3rd gear (just an example as it'll happen in most gears) and blip the throttle the noise occurs (just after lifting off)! It seems to be when a load is transferred from something to something else?????

Now, Tone reckoned there ain't no play in the UJ and couldn't see anything else untoward....anyone got any idea's as it's driving me in sane

[scatz]

Thanks Mr X but I've had all the arbs done already! This noise is happening when load is both lifted and applied which is why I think it's the prop or somesuch.......100% coming from centre round the gearbox/prop area (seeing as I had my head scraping along the floor listening to it happening ).

It's nowt to do with anything wheel or suspension I tell thee I'm pretty sure it's not in the gearbox itself as it's not muffled in anyway, you know what I mean.....it's sounds external in it's nature!

I'm gonna get round my mates tomorrow (nice flat drive) to jack the car up and have a real good play to see if I can locate it but I'm not too sure if it's gonna replicate by manual intervention .

Just to add, it doesn't seem to happen if I gently apply or release throttle but there's no real rhyme nor reason to it :brick wall:

I will vote. Transferbox

[scatz]

That's bad Nige???? Also, anyway I can check the box?????

All gear changes are smooth without issue by the way

[scatz]

Righto, been under the car and can feel or see no obvious faults with the propshaft or drive shafts, gearbox mounts seem to be fine also.

I got my mate to stand along side the car whilst I replicated the sound and he identified it as being from the area (underneath the car) behind the front wheel but forward of the wing mirror, virtually inline with the door shut which uncannily enough is inline with the transfer box....thanks Nige!

Sooooooooo, my next question would be; are these boxes interchangable between any 5 speed Awd Manual Subaru? Is it a simple case of removing old one and bolting on the other (obviously with gearbox dropped )? Anyone got one lying around?

[scatz]

Update on this, apparently I ain't got a transfer box, being permenant AWD!!!! I still reckon it's slack in something, here's a wee clip, see what you think guys?

Click for YouTube clip

I'm still banking on the propshaft. The noise you are nearing on the video happens after I lift off the throttle [having blipped it]!