I just got back from Ben92SE-R's place after doing a DET swap for blackb13. I must say, after some initial worries about what turned out to only be start-up clatter, it runs GREAT! BUT, I realized several things wrong with my car after today and yesterday. Maybe some of you can tell me what's wrong...

1. Shuddering when accelerating, especially noticeable in 3rd and 4th gears. I found out I need a new clutch cable, could that be the reason? ( I have a very firm clutch pedal). Or could it be...

2. Rubbing/grinding noise coming from rear wheel areas, especially noticeable when turning. Ben and Mike thought it could be brake pads or my rear calipers? My parking brake doesn't work and I suspect it's cause one or both rear calipers are siezed.

The only other minor problems I found were a dented oil pan (Not on the oil pick-up side), and a rattling exhaust at certain rpms (loose flange bolts, or hitting a heat shield?).

Anyone know what could be causing these things?

If your rear calipers were siezed, I imagine there would be a few more symptoms than just the noise - the most noticeable, I think, would be that your gas mileage would absolutely go to hell. It might also be your rims rubbing the struts in the rear (I notice you have aftermarket rims), but you might have already checked and discounted that idea.

As far as a rattle, it could be a bunch of things. My exhaust currently rattles, and I think its the guts of the cat coming loose, although I won't be able to verify it before next weekend. It could be a heat shield, a loose bolt, loose hanger, loose cat insides, loose muffler guts, etc. Tough to track down...

Hope this rambling helps.

Originally posted by RySE-R 1
2. Rubbing/grinding noise coming from rear wheel areas, especially noticeable when turning.
It's your wheel bearings. Easy fix. Just replace the whole assembly. Part from Courtesy cost $75 if memory serves.

I agree, good possibility it's the wheel bearings. If the rattle is slight you can go for a little longer, if it is very noticable you need to fix it quick. It is extreamly dangerous to ride on worn bearings.

So it could be the bearings? At first, the noise seemed to only occurr when I had my foot off the brakes, but that's not true now. It isn't ONLY when I'm turning that I hear the noises, but usually when I'm slowing down I hear the noises and especially if I have the windows open and there is a curb or somthing for the soind to echo off of. It does seem to have gotten louder, though.

i had a similar noise, but it came from the front of my car...turns out the pads on my Bluebird were full metallic....changed to a semi metallic/organic and the noise went away...whenever i turned the noise would be louder and whenever i was driving next to a wall/divider, thats when i could here it at first...

i have 4 wheel disc though, im not sure about your ride...

if its the wheel bearings try jacking up the car and see if you can push/pull the wheel side to side...if so, its prob the bearings...

Originally posted by Texasbangerz
if its the wheel bearings try jacking up the car and see if you can push/pull the wheel side to side...if so, its prob the bearings...
Bad wheel bearings will not always produce slop in the wheel. Increased noise when turning or putting any sort of side load on the wheel is a clear indication of a bad bearing. Jacking your car up and spinning the wheels may or may not reproduce the noise. It's most prominent when under load. If you hear even the slightest grinding noise when free spinning the wheel, it's a bad bearing.

this may sound stupid, but also check and make sure your lug nuts are really tight. My frinds car was making a noise similar when he was turning, it turned out to be the lug nuts on one wheel were not torqued down enough.