problems with the Z...driving home, need help?

[Mauiguyy911]

Two problems:

ONE: Ok so since I have bought my car, I have been getting a really LOUD vibrational noise when im doing around 80+ mph, gets louder the faster i go, seems to be coming from under car...after some thought, im thinking it could be the driveshaft, havent really inspected it yet though....so I was wondering if anyone has any ideas?? could it be the driveshaft (not balanced or something)? and if so, i was thinking about getting spohn's extreme duty driveshaft instead of going with the LS1? what do you think?

TWO: Have been hearing a ticking noise coming from under hood, the noise is constant and gets louder while accelerating, while cruising cant really hear it to much. I adjusted the rocker arms, 1/4 turn past lash and seemed to idle much better after doing that but still kept ticking loud. Also hit a curb going about 40 and cracked my front wheels(stupid me) after the adjustment. After the crash, the car started idling rough again and ticking seemed to get louder, should I adjust them again (may help with idling again but i know ticking wont go away). Im driving 900 miles home and back in mid-december so would greatly appreciate any help, very annoying... ANY ideas??

-kind of a lot so, thanks for any help ahead of time!

[sstony]

i know the injector tick on an LT1 is loud and any ignition misfire from plugs or wires is a loud tick too. you definitely need to get that thing checked out before attempting a 900 mile trip in december. now the vibrations--only come on at higher speeds?? and the noise, is it a roaring sound?? possible wheel bearing, wheel balance, or related. i'd think a driveshaft concern would be felt at lower speeds--and it wouldn't be hard to swap drive shafts with someone to eliminate that possiblity

[Mauiguyy911]

i know the injector tick on an LT1 is loud and any ignition misfire from plugs or wires is a loud tick too. you definitely need to get that thing checked out before attempting a 900 mile trip in december. now the vibrations--only come on at higher speeds?? and the noise, is it a roaring sound?? possible wheel bearing, wheel balance, or related. i'd think a driveshaft concern would be felt at lower speeds--and it wouldn't be hard to swap drive shafts with someone to eliminate that possiblity

It does sound like a roaring sound but its definently not a wheel balancing problem because I watched them get zero'd out when they were put on. Not really sure how to tell if its the wheel bearing but wouldnt that make more noise when the wheel is turned in a certain direction then get quieter when you turn the wheel the other way?? because the noise in not present what-so-ever at lower speeds. Also, not sure when the last time the plugs or wires were checked, should I just get new ones and see if it helps? Lastly, not sure if this would help, but pretty sure the car backfired one time, but only once when I was driving about a month ago..

[Mauiguyy911]

oh and the car has close to a 150,000 miles

[SATAN]

It's probably one of the bearings in the rearend, the sound won't necessarily change when you're turning. But I would have to hear it to know for sure.

[Mauiguyy911]

It's probably one of the bearings in the rearend, the sound won't necessarily change when you're turning. But I would have to hear it to know for sure.

how would i be able to check that out or get someone to hear it without going over 80mph?...the only time im doing that is on the interstate driving home

[slmdLS1]

how would i be able to check that out or get someone to hear it without going over 80mph?...the only time im doing that is on the interstate driving home


put it on jack stands + mash gas pedal + lloyds ears = problem found.

[sstony]

good luck with the plugs and wires. i swore i'd never touch them again on an LT1--i think i broke 2 new plugs last time i tried--but that was at 4 a.m. and we'd been wrenching for like 7 hrs

[SATAN]

Actually, if it's one of the outer axle bearings making noise it would probably have to have a load on it to make the noise.

[slmdLS1]

Actually, if it's one of the outer axle bearings making noise it would probably have to have a load on it to make the noise.

i figured if i posted that, that would be the case.

[dirtyblackhoe]

how hard is it to replace one of those bearings? I really think tha's what is wrong with my rear end as well. How much u want for your brandon?

[SATAN]

It would take me about 15-20 min. including smoke breaks. Book time is like 2.5 hr. or so!

[TurboStutr]

It would take me about 15-20 min. including smoke breaks. Book time is like 2.5 hr. or so!slacker

[dirtyblackhoe]

damn Satan want to put one in mine for me?

[Mauiguyy911]

well, how would someone go about checking that if the car has to have a load on it to check it...just have to change it out and see what happens?? anyone kno someone who might check it out...im not really in a hurry to get it done but would like to get it fixed as I plan on keeping the car for at least a couple more years. Then maybe that same person can listen to the insane ticking my car does when accelerating too b4 i just start changin out plugs and stuff

[towelie]

I said it before and I will say it again don't buy an lt1 unless you love working on your car all the time.

[Snow]

It would take me about 15-20 min. including smoke breaks. Book time is like 2.5 hr. or so!

You must have a lift in your garage!

[towelie]

You must have a lift in your garage!

Not gonna touch this one :duhidea:

[Mauiguyy911]

I said it before and I will say it again don't buy an lt1 unless you love working on your car all the time.

Hard to believe i know, but i do love working on my car...its just frustrating when i cant fix things but hopefully that will change someday soon

[brandboZ28]

Is it a vibration or just a noise?

Are you sure the ticking isnt just the injectors? Also, a collapsed lifter could also cause a ticking noise along with a rough idle. It could also lead to a lot of other broken stuff too...

Also, are you sure the ticking isnt some sort of exhaust leak...maybe near a fouled O2 sensor?

EDIT---in your sig, you say your car is an A4 with 3.42 gears stock. Thats incorrect. The A4 came with 2.73's or 3.23's stock. An easy way to check is with the RPO codes in the glove box. Look for either a GU2 or a GU5. GU2=2.73 and GU5=3.23. Also, if your car has a 1st gear selector on your "shifter", the car came with 3.23's. If not, it had 2.73's from the factory. Sorry, Im not trying to bust your balls. Im just wanna make sure youve got all the right info. :mrgreen:

[Spinner]

If your LT1 isnt ticking, its not running right.

[Mauiguyy911]

Is it a vibration or just a noise?

Are you sure the ticking isnt just the injectors? Also, a collapsed lifter could also cause a ticking noise along with a rough idle. It could also lead to a lot of other broken stuff too...

Also, are you sure the ticking isnt some sort of exhaust leak...maybe near a fouled O2 sensor?

EDIT---in your sig, you say your car is an A4 with 3.42 gears stock. Thats incorrect. The A4 came with 2.73's or 3.23's stock. An easy way to check is with the RPO codes in the glove box. Look for either a GU2 or a GU5. GU2=2.73 and GU5=3.23. Also, if your car has a 1st gear selector on your "shifter", the car came with 3.23's. If not, it had 2.73's from the factory. Sorry, Im not trying to bust your balls. Im just wanna make sure youve got all the right info. :mrgreen:

Well, the high speed problem is definently a noise and vibration (feels like the car is about to fall apart,lol). The whole car shakes and makes a makes a loud repititional sound at the same time. But of course, below 80mph the sound is almost non-existent.

Second, the ticking...im not sure exactly what it is, but does not sound like any type of exhaust leak problem, more like something inside valve covers...but i could possibly be wrong--After attempting to adjust my rocker arms the first time had know idea what i was doing and accidently tightened one down about 4 turns to far,SOAB!, i was told i could have bent a pushrod or something like that, i did adjust them tho but ticking is def. still bad

Lastly...Son of a B&*&%...the rear-axle ratio is 3.23, not 3.42....and trust me, not bustin my balls, i'd much rather know the correct info, thanks...now i want to get a new rear though! i got that info from a friend when i first bough the car and never questioned it

[towelie]

If your LT1 isnt ticking, its not running right.

If my tick ever go away I just might freak:t: .

[dhirocz]

Rear wheel bearing is what I thought. Of course if you hit the front with something, or even have alot of miles, that could happen too. Does it happen only on one side? You can always switch the front hubs. They are all the same 93-02.

As far as rear wheel bearings go, with 150k miles, plan on getting new axles too or axle saver bearings. If the surface of the axle isnt smooth and it probably isnt, that bearing may or may not do any good. Noise can also be attributed to the gearset. How long has it been since you changed the fluid or checked it, and if you have changed it, did you add some of the GM differential posi additive in it? It's supposed to keep the noise in the rearend down.

[Mauiguyy911]

Rear wheel bearing is what I thought. Of course if you hit the front with something, or even have alot of miles, that could happen too. Does it happen only on one side? You can always switch the front hubs. They are all the same 93-02.

As far as rear wheel bearings go, with 150k miles, plan on getting new axles too or axle saver bearings. If the surface of the axle isnt smooth and it probably isnt, that bearing may or may not do any good. Noise can also be attributed to the gearset. How long has it been since you changed the fluid or checked it, and if you have changed it, did you add some of the GM differential posi additive in it? It's supposed to keep the noise in the rearend down.

I actually changed out the rear-end fluid with mobil 1 synthetic and the GM additive about 1000 miles ago, but it did nothing for the high speed sound im getting. Also the noise cant really be noted to one side. Its really loud and the entire car kind of shakes and vibrates making a loud roaring noise, when going over 80mph, thats why i thought driveshaft but maybe its just the rear?

[dhirocz]

If it's a roaring sound I would start to think it's the gearset. Been there, done that on many cars. How do you drive it? A buddy of mine had actually overcrushed his crush sleeve by driving the thing hard every day. Pinion nut never moved, but it opened enough slack where the pinion wasnt preloaded in the housing anymore and it would dig into the ring gear. Figured I'd throw that out there.

Front bearings dont normally do that. It's probably in your rearend.

You can try to jack up the back and run the car, but dont go over 45MPH. I hate doing it that way because it's dangerous but it may or may not help you depending if the problem is there and if it has to be loaded to duplicate it.

I'd tear that rear apart and check your axles and bearings, maybe change the crush sleeve and any other questionable parts. But it's a 10 bolt and I know I hate doing that, lol

[Mauiguyy911]

well i guess i have some fun ahead of me, ill prob. just take the rear apart and check it out, thanx for the help

[SPARKY]

good luck with the plugs and wires. i swore i'd never touch them again on an LT1--i think i broke 2 new plugs last time i tried--but that was at 4 a.m. and we'd been wrenching for like 7 hrs

yep takes me about 4 hours with stock manifolds on a lt1.

the vibration issue sounds like a similar one i had back in '03, it dealt with the driveshaft. try and get a newer aluminum one.

[dhirocz]

yep takes me about 4 hours with stock manifolds on a lt1.

3/8 snap-on palm ratchet and a swivel. Takes me 45 minutes with manifolds on a lift, hour 15 on the ground. Used to wrench for a living a few years ago.

[SPARKY]

3/8 snap-on palm ratchet and a swivel. Takes me 45 minutes with manifolds on a lift, hour 15 on the ground. Used to wrench for a living a few years ago.

cool tools are definetly a plus. but id rather just buy some jet hots :D

[Mauiguyy911]

yep takes me about 4 hours with stock manifolds on a lt1.

the vibration issue sounds like a similar one i had back in '03, it dealt with the driveshaft. try and get a newer aluminum one.

yea, i did a little investigating already but i think that the high speed noise/vibration im getting is something from my driveshaft, do u think the ls1 aluminum driveshaft would be better than getting a heavy duty one? and is changing it out really the only way to tell if thats the problem?

[SPARKY]

the aluminum one is beyond your current power/traction levels, so yes.

[dhirocz]

True tools help alot. But it takes me the same amount of time to do plugs on an LT1, headers or not. Helps alot of the driver's side, but the rear and front passenger side plugs are a BITCH, especially the front one behind the alternator.

Your driveshaft might be the cause of the problem, but normally the vibration and noise would be more noticable leading up to 75MPH. It would be more progressive. Vibration shoulds right but the roaring noise doesnt make it sound like a driveshaft. Might be a combination of things. Either way, doesnt hurt to check.

Spinner, what MOS are you at Benning? Been there twice, I can only guess...haha. I'll be going back for jump school and ranger school as soon as I get back in country.

[Spinner]

45b, I fix guns... 9mm pistols to barret M2 .50 to 155mm howitzers and everything in between. Small arms/arty rep