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What'd I break on my car?

T

TrueBlueLS

Platinum Member
Okay, I went down to Milan last night to try and get better timeslips for my car. As I went to launch my car from a 3 grand dump, I got nothing but tire spin due to Milan's conditions. I wasn't thinking straight and didn't let up off the gas and shifted into 2nd when I saw 6 grand on my tach. After passing the timing boards and slowing down, I noticed a thud in my front end. The car didn't do it again until I reached the spot to get my timeslip. I left Milan and came back home not too long after that. Tonight while I was at work, I was in the back driving trying to figure out what I did. While making a full circle, I noticed a noise in the front end. After work, I had done the same thing to try and get a better feel of the sound to describe it, but I got a weird grinding noise when the wheel was turned all the way. Does anyone have a clue what I broke?
 
I'm not sure, but it doesn't sound good. First guess could be CV joint, but clutch or tranny is a possibility. If that's the car in your sig, I wouldn't be doing 3 grand clutch dumps with it. Cavalier's aren't made for that kind of thing.
 
Originally posted by: notfred
To diagnose this problem I'll need to hear your best ET and MPH.
Click to expand...

Let's just say I'm still working on my 60 foot times... It's killing me when I can't get it to nail a launch and run a 17.243, but someone else can run a 15.9 with the same setup.
 
Tell me about it... I'm just trying to figure out what I'm going to tell them when I go into the dealer Tuesday. I just don't know if hitting a pothole would destroy a CV joint if that's what it is. I doubt it's the clutch or trans because I would have noticed something with that on the way home. Well... I guess unless it's a mount. It was weird because of the nature it wouldn't make the first noise every circle. It was like every 2nd or 3rd time around. Let's hope my warranty covers it.
 
My 1998 Cavlier makes a creaking sound when I turn the wheel at slow speeds. I wonder if it's caused by the same thing?


: ) Amanda
 
Originally posted by: AMDStunna
Originally posted by: notfred
To diagnose this problem I'll need to hear your best ET and MPH.
Click to expand...

Let's just say I'm still working on my 60 foot times... It's killing me when I can't get it to nail a launch and run a 17.243, but someone else can run a 15.9 with the same setup.
Click to expand...

i doubt that the 15.9 was in a stock cavalier. especially with 17.7lbs/hp. check the tranny for broken mounts, that could explain the clunking sound, although i doubt the 2.2 has the torque to break a mount, unless it was defective
 
Originally posted by: ohtwell
My 1998 Cavlier makes a creaking sound when I turn the wheel at slow speeds. I wonder if it's caused by the same thing?


: ) Amanda
Click to expand...

probably the steering pump working hard because the tire isn't rolling enough to keep the friction low.
 
Originally posted by: toph99
Originally posted by: AMDStunna
Originally posted by: notfred
To diagnose this problem I'll need to hear your best ET and MPH.
Click to expand...

Let's just say I'm still working on my 60 foot times... It's killing me when I can't get it to nail a launch and run a 17.243, but someone else can run a 15.9 with the same setup.
Click to expand...

you aren't going to run a 15.9 in a stock cavalier, no way, no how.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't be too sure about that. There's people driving Z24 Cavaliers (the equivalent of the LS Sport Coupe +10HP) that are running 15.3-15.7 quarter miles stock. Maybe you're thinking of the base model with the 115 HP 2.2 OHV engine.
 
sounds like a cv joint to me.
Click to expand...
That's my guess without seeing the car.
My 1998 Cavlier makes a creaking sound when I turn the wheel at slow speeds. I wonder if it's caused by the same thing?
Click to expand...
That's because it's a Cavalier. 😉 Seriously, it could be a number of things including a bad suspension part like a tie rod end, strut tie bar end, etc.. Or a steering rack. Take it to a shop and have them put it in the air and check for looseness.

Sal
 
Originally posted by: ElFenix
Originally posted by: ohtwell
My 1998 Cavlier makes a creaking sound when I turn the wheel at slow speeds. I wonder if it's caused by the same thing?


: ) Amanda
Click to expand...

probably the steering pump working hard because the tire isn't rolling enough to keep the friction low.
Click to expand...

Hmmm. I thought about that but the noise is different. I know the steering pump noise when I hear it. I don't even have to turn the wheel very hard for it to start.


: ) Amanda
 
Originally posted by: Salvador
sounds like a cv joint to me.
Click to expand...
That's my guess without seeing the car.
My 1998 Cavlier makes a creaking sound when I turn the wheel at slow speeds. I wonder if it's caused by the same thing?
Click to expand...
That's because it's a Cavalier. 😉 Seriously, it could be a number of things including a bad suspension part like a tie rod end, strut tie bar end, etc.. Or a steering rack. Take it to a shop and have them put it in the air and check for looseness.

Sal
Click to expand...

I might have to do that. I just don't want it to be something too expensive. It isn't really getting any worse either. I notice every single noise my car makes.


: ) Amanda
 
Originally posted by: ohtwell
Originally posted by: ElFenix
Originally posted by: ohtwell
My 1998 Cavlier makes a creaking sound when I turn the wheel at slow speeds. I wonder if it's caused by the same thing?


: ) Amanda
Click to expand...

probably the steering pump working hard because the tire isn't rolling enough to keep the friction low.
Click to expand...

Hmmm. I thought about that but the noise is different. I know the steering pump noise when I hear it. I don't even have to turn the wheel very hard for it to start.


: ) Amanda
Click to expand...
Is it kind of a crunching/pinging sound?
 
Originally posted by: N8Magic
Originally posted by: ohtwell
Originally posted by: ElFenix
Originally posted by: ohtwell
My 1998 Cavlier makes a creaking sound when I turn the wheel at slow speeds. I wonder if it's caused by the same thing?


: ) Amanda
Click to expand...

probably the steering pump working hard because the tire isn't rolling enough to keep the friction low.
Click to expand...

Hmmm. I thought about that but the noise is different. I know the steering pump noise when I hear it. I don't even have to turn the wheel very hard for it to start.


: ) Amanda
Click to expand...
Is it kind of a crunching/pinging sound?
Click to expand...

It's so hard to explain.

It's not those. Those would suggest CV joints but I don't think that's it because it doesn't happen when I turn the wheel at a speed over 40.


: ) Amanda
 
It reminds me of the noise a rubber band makes when as you stretch it really taut.

Does that help?


: ) Amanda
 
Originally posted by: ohtwell
It reminds me of the noise a rubber band makes when as you stretch it really taut.

Does that help?

: ) Amanda
Click to expand...

I'm impressed that you know what a bad CV joint sounds like! 🙂

As for the rubber band sound, nothing is coming to mind right now... hmm.


 
Originally posted by: notfred
Originally posted by: AMDStunna
Originally posted by: notfred
so, 17.24. I'll race you for $100. 🙂
Click to expand...

Not unless I get a better 60 foot time than 2.478 seconds. By the way... what do you have?
Click to expand...

pic#0 pic#1 pic#2 pic#3
Click to expand...

Hmm...if it wasn't for that supercharger I'd run against you. I plan to get one in a while but first I've got some more intake mods to do and then there's the issue of the 3 grand they cost.
 
Originally posted by: ohtwell
Originally posted by: ElFenix
Originally posted by: ohtwell
My 1998 Cavlier makes a creaking sound when I turn the wheel at slow speeds. I wonder if it's caused by the same thing?


: ) Amanda
Click to expand...

probably the steering pump working hard because the tire isn't rolling enough to keep the friction low.
Click to expand...

Hmmm. I thought about that but the noise is different. I know the steering pump noise when I hear it. I don't even have to turn the wheel very hard for it to start.


: ) Amanda
Click to expand...


do you have the 2.2 or 2.4L? is the power steering pump running off of the intake cam(instead off off of the belt) because i have a 2.4L in my alero and i swear it's the noisiest power steering pump i have ever heard. it groans at every movement, and makes the engine drop a few hundred rpm at idle to move the wheel. giant POS.
 
Originally posted by: N8Magic
Originally posted by: ohtwell
It reminds me of the noise a rubber band makes when as you stretch it really taut.

Does that help?

: ) Amanda
Click to expand...

I'm impressed that you know what a bad CV joint sounds like! 🙂

As for the rubber band sound, nothing is coming to mind right now... hmm.
Click to expand...

I know a little about cars. Everything went wrong with my 91 Cavalier so I started to learn what some sounds meant.

This one baffles me though. I thought CV joints too but the noise is different.


: ) Amanda
 
Originally posted by: notfred
Originally posted by: AMDStunna
Originally posted by: notfred
so, 17.24. I'll race you for $100. 🙂
Click to expand...

Not unless I get a better 60 foot time than 2.478 seconds. By the way... what do you have?
Click to expand...

pic#0 pic#1 pic#2 pic#3
Click to expand...

Can I have a 100 shot before I even challenge you? I'd get toasted by a 5.0. Nah, no nitrous or fart cans for my car... It's going to be all motor (intake, throttle body, header, underdrive pulley, 3 angle heads) before I can boost it.
 
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