Loud thump coming from the rearend?

[V10SpeedLuvr]

I've heard a loud "thump" coming from my rearend when I've taken off from redlights a couple times lately (just normal driving, no hard acceleration). The car drives fine, but I'm concerned about this thump noise. I checked the records from the previous owner and rear end differential service was done 3 yrs ago, (about 11k miles since then). Think this could be the prob? I'm going to have it done anyway just for my piece of mind, but are there any other suspects I should check while doing the differential service for the thumping? And no, I dont have a bowling ball rolling around in the trunk . Since I'll be doing the rearend, is there any other service I should do at the same time?

Also, can someone post how to do the rearend service on a 96' RT/10? My service manual has grown legs and walked off on me. TIA

 

[PaViper]

I would definately service the rearend with 11000 miles on it since it was serviced, but while you are under it, torque all the bolts that you can lay a wrench on to spec, mine turned out to be one of the rear mounts that was tight, but not tight enough....

 

[Phil Lee 94 red RT]

Is it left or right side. If so, try torquing the bolt that attaches the rotor to the halfshaft. Yes it does have a cotter pin to hold it, but it still could be loose. The torque is like 220flb. Don't remember for sure.

 

[Phil Lee 94 red RT]

Also could be a loose bolt on the bar that goes from the Trany to the rearend, that was a common problem with the Gen I.

 

[sbkim]

check the tranny mount - mine were broken in less than 10k mi

 

[Inferno]

I would really like to know what the hell this is. I have an 02 and it has made this sound 4 or 5 times under heavy acceleration. Funny thing is, it doesn't do it all the time, and the car drives amazing like there is nothing wrong. But it is a nasty thump, and many here have experienced it. Some claim to have fixed it, but it usually comes back. It may just be a quirk that these cars have. The most consistent explanation I have heard is the 4 bolts on the rear diff.

 

[snampro]

Is it left or right side. If so, try torquing the bolt that attaches the rotor to the halfshaft. Yes it does have a cotter pin to hold it, but it still could be loose. The torque is like 220flb. Don't remember for sure.

I believe you mean the bolt that holds the hub to the half-shaft, there's no bolt holding the rotor on, that's what the wheel and lug nuts do, right?

 

[smfettig]

I have a similar problem but mine is more of a "pop" sound. Mine pops on acceleration. I was told that it could be that the bolts in the suspension needed to be torqued down. I did torque them down once and the sound went away, but it is back again.

 

[Phil Lee 94 red RT]

I believe you mean the bolt that holds the hub to the half-shaft, there's no bolt holding the rotor on, that's what the wheel and lug nuts do, right?

Sorry, your correct, hub nut.

 

[Tom Welch]

Your halfshaft is bent and not sliding properly. Upon acceleration it "pops" as it has to slide along the spline that connects the two parts of the halfshaft together.

You may be lucky enough to grease them....but its probably too late or bent or twisted along the spline.

Order a pair of my aftermarket ones and Problem solved!

 

[ACELLR8]

I would definitely check the torque of all the rear bolts and check out the Ladder bar. I snapped mine twice on my Gen I. It made a clunk noise after I broke it until I got the car home and found it.