Notices
Suspension, Brakes, Drivetrain discuss the wondrous effects of boost and your miata...
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: 949 Racing

Diff Companion Flange / Pinion Damper Knocking

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 8, 2015 | 05:24 AM
  #1  
Little Badger's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newb
 
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 16
Total Cats: 0
Default Diff Companion Flange / Pinion Damper Knocking

It seems to have many names but my car has a knocking noise coming from under the car when going over rough ground and this seems to be the fault.

I've seen that the rubber damper has some movement but is not loose.
When you tap the rubber damper, in the direction of the propshaft, with a rubber mallet the knocking noise can be heard.

I've had the propshaft quickly inspected and there isn't an obvious problem there.

Has anyone had this problem before?

What is exactly causing the knocking noise?

If I was to cut off the rubber damper would this fix the problem?
Old Oct 8, 2015 | 02:30 PM
  #2  
Savington's Avatar
Former Vendor
iTrader: (31)
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 15,442
Total Cats: 2,106
From: Sunnyvale, CA
Default

I had the rubber damper come completely loose on Theseus. That produces one hell of a vibration at 140mph. You can remove it, but you will hear more drivetrain noise, particularly on decel. Removing it requires cutting it off carefully or removing the pinion flange, and removing the pinion flange requires resetting the pinion depth (essentially a full rebuild).
Old Oct 8, 2015 | 02:57 PM
  #3  
aidandj's Avatar
SADFab Destructive Testing Engineer
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 18,643
Total Cats: 1,870
From: Beaverton, USA
Default

My damper is loose too. I can check if it makes a knocking noise later.
Old Oct 8, 2015 | 04:25 PM
  #4  
Little Badger's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newb
 
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 16
Total Cats: 0
Default

Thanks for the replies.
@aidandj The noise is like my exhaust is loose and is banging on the car when I go over bumps. It's quite loud which makes me think that it's more than just the rubber damper being loose.
Old Oct 15, 2015 | 12:18 PM
  #5  
Little Badger's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newb
 
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 16
Total Cats: 0
Default

Finally got my car to a diff expert.
Guess what?
It wasn't the companion flange after all.

The drivers side rear caliper bolts had loosened (one had fallen out).
They replaced all the rear caliper bolts and Loctite threadlocked them.

You live and learn.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Quinn
Cars for sale/trade
6
Oct 23, 2016 07:58 AM
Rudes333
Miata parts for sale/trade
7
Oct 16, 2015 01:52 PM
aidandj
DIY Turbo Discussion
10
Oct 7, 2015 10:59 PM
thumpetto007
General Miata Chat
17
Sep 17, 2015 06:01 PM




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:20 AM.