Really hope I didn't bust the CV joint when I was installing the sport suspension.

I'm getting a clicking from the passenger side front wheel. If I'm in gear and let off the gas to engine brake, the clicking starts every time (in any gear lower than 5th.) If I have the clutch depressed, the clicking happens only occasionally while braking.

When I get home I'll pop the wheel off and check everything out. I wish it was just the sway bar binding...but I don't think that is the case. Pretty sure I'm gonna need a new axle. Thoughts?

 

If it's a CV joint, you should be able to reproduce the clicking by doing slow full lock turns in a parking lot. If it doesn't click in that situation, I'd think twice about it being a CV joint.

If you have the time, I suggest you rebuild your stock axles with new joints. I got mine from Blauparts but ECS has them as well. Should come with clamps, grease, a new axle bolt and boot. Cheapest route and you'll know that you're still retaining the OEM axle shaft length. As for replacements, I heartily recommend buying from Marty at Raxles. He's a great guy and he makes top notch products. I went through three Chinese EMPI/FEQ axles from ECS on my GF's TT trying to save money, and I'll never do that again. One lasted 100 miles, one lasted 50 miles, and the last one didn't last 5. Raxles have a lifetime warranty with OEM cores rebuilt to OEM spec with quality aftermarket parts.

 

I didn't seem to notice any clicking while turning. I can hear it prominently and repeatedly when decelerating in gear though.

What is strange is that the noise only occurred after I replaced the pinch bolt with the proper strength rating bolt (I drove the car with an underrated bolt for a day and didn't hear any clicking. Not ideal, but I had to do some errands. The bolt was the proper size, just not the proper grade.)

The noise definitely sounds like a driveline issue (due to the clicking stopping when I put the clutch in or shift to neutral), and not a suspension issue. I'll do some lock to lock turns and see what happens though.

 

Forgot to mention, you should come to a complete stop and then start again while turned to full lock on each side. If you can't make it click like that I'll be really surprised.

 

I'll try that on the way home and report back.

 

I second your quote about buying axles, oem or no go. I bought three empi front axles. One has been great, two of them failed almost immediately. The last one only clicks when doing doughnuts with wheel locked towards the passenger, so I have not bothered replacing it yet, just annoying. If you say your raxles guy is quality I'll be buying from him, not the empis I have previously purchased.

 

And the clicking stopped.

I'm not sure if I should be happy or annoyed. After letting the car sit for 4 hours I could not get it to reproduce the clicking while decelerating. It only clicked one time, and that was making a sweeping freeway speed right turn while in gear.

No clicking while making slow lock to lock turns either. I'm gonna pop the wheel off and take a look today anyways.

 

I'm always very suspicious of noises that just go away on their own. Makes me wonder if it isn't a CV joint. I'd take the wheel off that corner and double check everything you touched. Not implying that you aren't a thorough mechanic, but I never cease to amaze myself with the things I'll be so sure I checked and then didn't.

 

Yep, intermittent issues are the WORST to diagnose.

HOW DARE YOU QUESTION MY WRENCHING SKILLS. No, please do. No one is perfect.