I'm beating my head on the wall...

[FiatDavidFiat]

So, after getting my engine running nicely, I started driving, got it smogged and registered, and then the real problems started...

First, I replaced the driveshaft bearing/mount unit. Next, I replaced the pumpkin; followed by the u-joints. I was about to take it for a test drive when, besides the battery being dead from sitting a couple weeks, as it rolled from my parking space I heard the familiar whine that sounds sort of like unlubricated metal. I heard this when these problems started.. Besides the differential housing, the only parts south of the tranny that I haven't replaced is the axels and the differential housing.. It sounds like it's coming from the rear, and it sounds fine when I run thru the gears with the driveshaft detached.

Tomorrow I'm planning to detach the driveshaft and roll it forward just to see for certain if it's coming from the rear-axel assembly.

In my mind the only consulation is that it's gotten as bad as I can imagine, and I've replaced nearly everything...

The other singular possibility that comes to mind is that I may have missaligned the driveshaft upon installation, and will determine that tomorrow.. any other thoughts?

[TulsaSpider]

Well with no resistance, friction, weight - stress on the parts you may not get any noise. Have you jacked the rear up and
s a f e l y secured it with it in gear and listened to the rear? Does the trans ever pop out of gear? I have driven one that had a bad trans (popped out of a gear) and it made a very lovely whining noise.... It's hard to locate that kind of noise

[131]

as it rolled from my parking space I heard the familiar whine that sounds sort of like unlubricated metal.

Have you checked your rear pads are OK?

[vandor]

The trans does have oil in it, right? And the rear end too?

[So Cal Mark]

make sure someone didn't use longer bolts on the seatbelt mounts. A longer bolt will hit the driveshaft. Also check the emergency brake cable where it attaches under the driveshaft

[baltobernie]

You replaced the pumpkin? That's a pretty complex procedure, filling several pages in the shop manual. Did you adjust the gears to spec?

[vandor]

You replaced the pumpkin? That's a pretty complex procedure, filling several pages in the shop manual. Did you adjust the gears to spec?

You can replace the entire pumpkin and leave the gears in place, then you do not have to go through adjusting them.

[FiatDavidFiat]

I ended up having to replace the CV axle on my girl's car yesterday instead of working on my own..

You replaced the pumpkin? That's a pretty complex procedure, filling several pages in the shop manual. Did you adjust the gears to spec?

You can replace the entire pumpkin and leave the gears in place, then you do not have to go through adjusting them.

I replaced the pumpkin simply by pulling the axles and then the pumpkin, replaced, then replaced. No alterations.

make sure someone didn't use longer bolts on the seatbelt mounts. A longer bolt will hit the driveshaft. Also check the emergency brake cable where it attaches under the driveshaft

The noise didn't start until a short time ago, the seatbelt bolts aren't touching the driveshaft. have reset the E-brake each time the driveshaft came off.

The trans does have oil in it, right? And the rear end too?

I checked all the fluids recently, and of course refilled the pumpkin upon install.. I will however, check them again.

as it rolled from my parking space I heard the familiar whine that sounds sort of like unlubricated metal.

Have you checked your rear pads are OK?

I am concerned about the brakes.. on the rear, one side has full pads while the other is worn to nearly the end of the wear mark + it looks slightly uneven.. I'm planning to blead them and replace the side that's worn once I get it moving, and check the front.

Well with no resistance, friction, weight - stress on the parts you may not get any noise. Have you jacked the rear up and
s a f e l y secured it with it in gear and listened to the rear? Does the trans ever pop out of gear? I have driven one that had a bad trans (popped out of a gear) and it made a very lovely whining noise.... It's hard to locate that kind of noise

I previoously ran it while jacked but not since running this gauntlet.. it didn't put enough stress on it before though to diagnose the dif.. found that out by draining the fluid. The tranny runs the gears well and hasn't ever popped out. Also, I heard it when I put the clutch in and it rolled forward a couple feet.

I, for some reason, neglected to clean out the dif. housing when I swapped the pumpkin.. I'm told that between that and hopefully the axle bearings (specifically because I had to YANk the drivers-side axle out with a pry bar) I may find the answer.. any other insights before I start the job (tentatively tomorrow, Wednesday) would be appreciated!

[geert]

A/ same noise if you just turn a rear wheel ?
B/removing the rear brake pads, reinstalling the calipers, and listening for a noise ( with car on even ground or on axles of course), to be sure the rear brakes are not the cause.

difficult locating a noise at the rear end of a fiat ( differential, brake, bearings)

good luck, Geert.

[FiatDavidFiat]

A/ same noise if you just turn a rear wheel ?
B/removing the rear brake pads, reinstalling the calipers, and listening for a noise ( with car on even ground or on axles of course), to be sure the rear brakes are not the cause.

difficult locating a noise at the rear end of a fiat ( differential, brake, bearings)

good luck, Geert.

A) I don't think so, but I can't turn it very fast.
B) I removed the calipers today and had trouble figuring out how to push the piston back to change the pads that were spent on the driver's rear.. finally realized that you have to basically screw it like a screw. I bled both of the rear brakes and it made a HUGE difference in braking ability and e-brake pressure.. One side seems to have stopped making the noise, but the other remains.. I checked the axle bearing on the driver's side, and it looked fine (this is the side that stopped making the noise). I didn't have time to check the passenger's side, will do that tomorrow. I DID notice some residual metal flakes/pieces when I pulled the driver's rear axle after-all, and am going to swab it out and drain the dif. tomorrow, as well. Strongly hoping that either the metal flakes or the passenger's side rear axle bearing is the problem..