Now i've got to check if it's my bearing or the axle making this noise, i have to assume the only real way of checking the bearing is by trying to move the wheel top and bottom?

 

If it was the bearings, you'd think it would make the clicking noise more frequently

 

Maybe a peice of wood and a hammer (if you can get a small peice of wood to fit)

 

HELP! I was able to remove my passenger rear axle without too much trouble but I have been pounding the **** out of the driverside with a rubber mallet and i even tried a hammer and 2x4 and still cant get it out.. can someone please give me some suggestions here. Should i try to spray some pb blaster in there or something?

 

i thought bad wheel bearing made the thumping sound while driving

 

What do you mean by all the way? It won't go fully out of the hub until you have the rest of the axle hanging free and past all the exhaust parts and rear suspension. Just get it loose, then pull the whole axle out from the bottom.

Just noise, it's only heard because there is nothing to damp the metal-to-metal contact noise from the normal lash. The play is still there after you lube it, but you don't hear it hitting anymore.

 

^i see thanks. sounds too much of a hassle for me to fix if its not damaging anything. im used to it clicking lol

 

Pretty much. But if you are only getting this click, it's not because of the wheel bearing. If it's making other strange noises then you need to troubleshoot it properly.

It won't move at all? If you can't free it up at all, I'd suggest as you said use some sort of penetrating oil (PB Blaster is awesome), let it sit for a bit and work it's way in. After that, try hitting it as solidly as possible. Put the axle nut back on the axle backwards, turn it in until the flange is just over the end of the axle. Put a piece of aluminum or brass or something across it, and strike it sharply with a hammer.

Sometimes the rubber mallet or piece of wood just doesn't give the sharp hit needed to break it loose. It should only take one hit, don't sit and beat on it.

Don't know about a thumping, it's usually a growling type noise or can be a humming if it's more mild.

 

It's a very quick fix honestly, once I found this thread I did it on my car and i'm so happy I don't have to hear it anymore. I actually pulled the whole axle so I could clean the rust off and lube it all up properly, but doing it as they mention here with just pushing it in and adding grease, could be done in 15 min.

 

oh yea humming sounds more right.

 

Yeah, mine has a slight humm/whirr at about 55-60.

 

I used some pb blaster and used a thin piece of metal against the axle and gave it a coupe good even hits with a hammer and she finally broke loose! I finished everything up last night and NO MORE CLICKING! thanks again for the advice man.

 

Glad you got it!

If you're crazy like me about stuff like that, it will irritate the crap outta you. I know it's nothing, but by the same logic I don't want to hear it if it can be prevented.

 

If it's only prevalent at one speed, it may be tire related. Wheel bearing nosie tends to just build with speed, and if your car is quiet you can hear it start from a lower speed and get louder, although if it's not really that bad yet you may not hear it over the wind as the speed climbs.

Doesn't help that Z's are a bit loud anyway.

 

^yea could be flat spots in the tire would do that

 

I thought it was tyres too, but then this possibility turned up, guess i have to go get the jack out and check.
Not sure how it is when i'm going slower, the roads here are very noisy anyway, and as you said, the 350 road noise doesn't help.


It would be nice if it was just the axle grease fix.

 

any hints for getting stuck axle nut off...
i have electric impact and 3/4 breaker bar with huge axle socket set but cant break it free. will be looking for a small torch...
any other hints or ideas so i dont mess up the threads or the axle itself.
thanks

 

thats what im dealing with... its almost surely bad bearing.

 

Put a 2-3 foot extension on your breaker bar, use a piece of tubing.

I used the 3 foot handle from my floor jack, makes it easy.

Also, spray penitrating oil on the nut and let it sit for 10 min.

 

^^^^This.