nooo it's def. a creaking sound and it's coming from the rear of the car. only at low speeds or when i drop the clutch. hasn't done it as much as it did before after replacing nuts but still does it sometimes. i'm just getting frustrated

 

okay so if i replace my axles do you think this will fix it?

 

If you're rolling along at a low speed, with no change in your speed - do you still get the noise?

 

no it is never a constant thing. it just makes its noise, then whe i get up to speed it stops. the sound i hear is for maybe a half second at most. just creak and it's done

what about differential mount? i searched up on those too sounded like it could be the culprit maybe?

 

Okay, 100% sounds to me like the usual axel pop situation. If that's the case, your axels are perfectly fine. It's just that the splines on the outboard CV joints need a little grease where they go into the hub.

Here's how the S2000 rear-end goes together, as I understand it.

Part number 6 is the outboard CV joint. It's what the spindle nut that you tightened goes on to.


Part number 2 is the actual hub that the wheels bolt on to. The hub goes into a bearing, part 36, that in turn goes into the suspension knuckle. (See below.) The outboard CV joint from above, however, goes through the hub. The theory is that the CV joint moves in and out of the hub slightly when the suspension geometry changes, which is why tightening the spindle nut usually helps, by holding things in place. That bit of movement, when the car is accelerating, puts some force on the CV splines contacting the hub, and you get a situation similar to rubbing your finger over a glass window. The ultimate fix, I'm told, is to put a little grease on those splines.


Parts number 3 and 4, by the way, are the suspension knuckles that the hubs (with bearing!) go in to.

 

klee1113, do you see that^

....

 

Its movement between Pink and Blue.
Pink is the axle/outer CV.
Yellow is the hub, with the 2 inner races of the wheel bearing, Blue and Green pressed on, see them all 3 as one.
Red is the nut.

Now.. if there is a little movement possible between Pink and Yellow, you may get a click when changing direction or taking off.
The splines should have little play but when dry I guess its possible.
Just replacing the nut won't do much, even with high torque, IF that clicking has been going on for a while and the surfaces have been "damaged" a bit.
Then its best to remove the axle (Pink) out of the hub (Yellow), clean and inspect the splines of both, use Moly (or simular) grease on it and put it back together, with a little Moly grease on the thread and behind the nut (its a flanged nut so there is room for that - it only takes a thin layer)

IIR there was a service update or whatever it was called, that stated to apply a thin! layer of RTV silicone glue on the face of the CV that touches the inner bearing race to prevent any movement between the 2, "dry" steel does't have much "grip"
Cleaning both should help too and should be done also of course.

Been there / done that.
(didn't have the axle click but did it anyway replacing studs)



P.S. There is NO sliding in & out the hub, the nut prevents it.

 

Hey, I'm just noticing some creaking/groaning, under ~neutral throttle. Getting on the gas or declutching reduces/eliminates it. So does lateral load! Wiggling side to side, the noise is reduced when the car is pulling minor g's in either direction.

Would love to hear your thoughts on it.

TIA!

 

Good stuff SpitfireS, thanks!

 

elistan and spitfire both, THANK YOU! i am going to proceed with this route and get back as soon as it's pursued!