Toyota Repair: clunk Sound Half shaft?, differential gears, metal particles

Question
QUESTION: Hi Ted,

I had Meinkie replace the half shafts on my 1995 4 cyl LE Camry in Feb 2009. Then a year late they had to replace the passenger side one they installed which was A1 Cardonn which was making a clicking sound. The half shafts have a lifetime warranty in which I only pay labor.

When I pull out from a stop and give the car gas like one does to pull out into traffic, I can detect a sound that is similar to when the front motor mount went bad and the engine would rock on acceleration, but this sound is not as harsh as that motor mount sound. I replaced that mount two years ago.

To do some analysis, in a big parking lot I cut the wheels sharp to the left going in a circle, but did not hear a clicking sound. I cut the wheels sharp to the right going in a circle and did not hear a clicking sound, but I did sense a slight wobble in the front end while going in a circle to the right. Two days ago when I had to pull out with a sharp turn to the right onto a highway, the front end felt rough like something was binding or I was on gravel you know how a tired can spin on gravel.

I only sense this sound when going from a stop to load the engine in gear. I don’t feel when accelerating the engine while the transmission is in park. Could a half shaft make this sound that feels like the sound and effect of a worn front motor mount?

Could something in the transaxle be doing this?

My car right now has 179K miles.

Thanks Ted,

Sincerely,

Mike

ANSWER: I don't think the axles can make this type of noise, the differential gears can possibly do this, have the differntial oil drained to see if there are any metal particles or pieces stuck to the magnetic drain plug or if the oil has a lot of metal in it.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Ted,

Thanks for the answer. Why would there be a wobble in the front end when the wheels are cut to the right sharply and going in a circle forward?

When I back out of the garage the wheels are also cut to the right and there is a slight wobble, not a continous one but it is regular regular.

I am now starting to hear a whirling sound while in the passenger compartment that increases with engine speed when driving. The whirling sound follows the sounds of the engine reving up to different speeds through the shifting process of the 1st, 2nd, and third gears to reach over drive. As each gear shifts and RPMs decrease, so does the whirling sound.

So I am curious about the whirling sound and wooble?

I planned to drive 154 miles to my parents for mother's day this weekend. Should I not do that trip to avoid further possible damage to the differential?

Could I drain and refill the diff myself? Where is the refill hole? I am guessing the drain is the allen screw on the bottom?

Answer
The wobble could be caused by a bent wheel or tire tread problem, not sure without driving the car miself, it could also be a a cv joint, or more likely you have an axle bearing going out. This may be the noise you are hearing. I would not advise driving it in this condition.