Hey guys,
I just finished a small suspension overhaul, and I believe there is a problem with my OEM 2-piece driveshaft. First, the particulars:
2013 Boss 302
9,140 original miles
Stock shifter
Stock clutch
Stock driveshaft
This past Saturday, I upgraded some to the suspension components on my car. I used all FRPP parts, and kept it mild as far as changes go;
M-5300-T springs all around
M-5649-R1 rear lower control arms
M-5650-A lower control arm brackets
M-4264-A adj panhard bar.
Install was pretty straight forward, as these are all good parts that fell right into place. They look great under the car, and gave me the drop that I was after while also getting rid of the wheel-hop during "spirited acceleration".
Problem is... I heard a "clunking" noise now while driving. Mostly at low speeds while using the clutch. I've been listening intently for noises, as it's after a fresh round of work done, but I'm not sure if it was there before, or I just didn't notice it. It makes me nervous, because we all know the clutch/trans is made of glass, and it's in my head to be easy and careful with both of them. I put the rear of the car up on ramps in my driveway so I could roll under there with the suspension loaded and give things a good once over. I checked everything I could put my hands on, and especially everything I touched during the install. Nothing loose, missing, or seems to be stressed. I shook all the parts I installed, and even felt them up with a wrench to make sure.
Just because I was there, I grabbed the driveshaft. There's play in it. It definitely sounds like the "clunking" noise I believe I'm hearing. It moves front to back about 1/16" (1.5mm) and I can twist/rotate it side to side about 3/16" (4.5mm).
Now, I am no mechanic. I only have experience with full on race cars (worked in NASCAR for 15+ years) and the odd, mini-truck/tuner car now and then, so I know about pinion angle and such, but I'm more a fabricator than anything, so I feel a little out of my wheel house on this kind of stuff. I regretfully didn't check the pinion angle before I started, or after I finished. I bolted the shiznit up and set the LCA's in the most bottom hole of the brackets. I am planning on getting the car aligned this Wednesday at Ford and was gonna ask them to check the pinion while they were at it, but I like opinions from people more experienced than me so I figured y'all were the best to ask.
Any and all guidance or advice is greatly appreciated. I look forward to hearing from everyone. Here’s a link for some pics, if anyone wants to see the car.
https://imgur.com/gallery/vHBF9Rw
I just finished a small suspension overhaul, and I believe there is a problem with my OEM 2-piece driveshaft. First, the particulars:
2013 Boss 302
9,140 original miles
Stock shifter
Stock clutch
Stock driveshaft
This past Saturday, I upgraded some to the suspension components on my car. I used all FRPP parts, and kept it mild as far as changes go;
M-5300-T springs all around
M-5649-R1 rear lower control arms
M-5650-A lower control arm brackets
M-4264-A adj panhard bar.
Install was pretty straight forward, as these are all good parts that fell right into place. They look great under the car, and gave me the drop that I was after while also getting rid of the wheel-hop during "spirited acceleration".
Problem is... I heard a "clunking" noise now while driving. Mostly at low speeds while using the clutch. I've been listening intently for noises, as it's after a fresh round of work done, but I'm not sure if it was there before, or I just didn't notice it. It makes me nervous, because we all know the clutch/trans is made of glass, and it's in my head to be easy and careful with both of them. I put the rear of the car up on ramps in my driveway so I could roll under there with the suspension loaded and give things a good once over. I checked everything I could put my hands on, and especially everything I touched during the install. Nothing loose, missing, or seems to be stressed. I shook all the parts I installed, and even felt them up with a wrench to make sure.
Just because I was there, I grabbed the driveshaft. There's play in it. It definitely sounds like the "clunking" noise I believe I'm hearing. It moves front to back about 1/16" (1.5mm) and I can twist/rotate it side to side about 3/16" (4.5mm).
Now, I am no mechanic. I only have experience with full on race cars (worked in NASCAR for 15+ years) and the odd, mini-truck/tuner car now and then, so I know about pinion angle and such, but I'm more a fabricator than anything, so I feel a little out of my wheel house on this kind of stuff. I regretfully didn't check the pinion angle before I started, or after I finished. I bolted the shiznit up and set the LCA's in the most bottom hole of the brackets. I am planning on getting the car aligned this Wednesday at Ford and was gonna ask them to check the pinion while they were at it, but I like opinions from people more experienced than me so I figured y'all were the best to ask.
Any and all guidance or advice is greatly appreciated. I look forward to hearing from everyone. Here’s a link for some pics, if anyone wants to see the car.
https://imgur.com/gallery/vHBF9Rw