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Clunking sound is costing me a bundle to fix out of warranty
- Thread starter evrevo
- Start date
⚡️ELECTROMAN⚡️
Village Idiot
Just out of curiosity I might go do that. Sounds like a good way to fritter away some time. I owned a '92 Camry. When I went to buy a second Camry in 2010 I found that it drove badly and was rattly. My guess was that they cheapened it to sell more Lexus ES models.
ACA Man
Member
I test drove both Camry and GS350.
The Camry even has a HUD.
The GS is a much more luxurious and potent car.
PismoPat
Member
Brass Guy
Active Member
I had this same half shaft/hub issue out of warranty. That were swapping the drive unit at the same time for a different noise, I got them to goodwill half the cost. My quote read $1200 per half shaft IIRC. I'll have to look it up and post the image.
On the side topic of "luxury," Tesla never called S or X luxury, but "premium" which means more expensive.
On the side topic of "luxury," Tesla never called S or X luxury, but "premium" which means more expensive.
KidDoc
Member
I just got my quote. I have both the drive unit clunk and the axle click. My 3rd party warranty covers suspension but not drive train. If I get it the axle fixed now with the drive unit there is no labor charge. They quoted me $800 per axle so not too bad.
dabbler
Member
This rear end "clicking " started about 2 months past on my 2013 S85 with 135K miles . Always when accelerating or when regen kicks in. Only on the drivers side. From what I gather from reading this thread, the "clicking" is from slack / wear in the outer half shaft splines and could be resolved by re-torquing the outer axle nut? This seams a plausible solution and worth further examination.
SabrToothSqrl
Active Member
2005 Mazda Tribute. 185,000 miles. No clunking. Just throwing that out there 
gavine
Petrol Head turned EV Enthusiast
2005 Mazda Tribute. 185,000 miles. No clunking. Just throwing that out there
Not enough torque to make the sound.
I am actually going to challenge that: it probably does clunk when you change from drive to reverse, which is effectively what an electric vehicle does every time you go in to regen. That is pretty common in high mileage vehicles of all makes. Electric makes it more objectionable and demands a stronger design.
My Tesla Model S 2013 P85+ has the same clunking sound. My car has ~75k miles. It's noticeable when I accelerate from idle to ~10 mph or decelerate to stop. Tesla service finally fix the issue after three visit for the same issue. We could reproduce the issue by going to a parking lot, roll down the rear windows and accelerate from idle and then decelerate to stop. I could hear clunk sound at both instances.
On my third visit to the Tesla service center, they finally fix the issue. They said it's caused by rust corrosion in the rear passenger side halfshaft. This time they clean out the grease and use wd 40 and clean out the rust and then re-grease. Now after a week, I can confirm that clunking sound is fixed and car is quiet. They had said if this final try doesn't work, then we would have to replace the halfshaft.
On my third visit to the Tesla service center, they finally fix the issue. They said it's caused by rust corrosion in the rear passenger side halfshaft. This time they clean out the grease and use wd 40 and clean out the rust and then re-grease. Now after a week, I can confirm that clunking sound is fixed and car is quiet. They had said if this final try doesn't work, then we would have to replace the halfshaft.
Attachments
SeminoleFSU
Voluntaryist
Repacking with grease will only temporarily improve the issue. Over time it will return and will likely require a DU replacement (which I think may include the half shaft)
So far the clunking for me hasn't returned with 3k miles on it since the below service. I have 2 more years of warranty left, so not too worried.
SW2Fiddler
We Are Cognitive Dissidents
DU replacement does not include either half shaft. I had DU replaced under warranty this week and the tech said they check for the "Clunk" after each DU replacement now, and if the grease on the CV shaft's spline (at the wheel hub) has dried out and started gapping, they will repack.
They did so for mine, the clunk is gone, no charge for this on my bill.
I had requested they order in a half-shaft just in case, and he did. It wasn't needed.
Edit To Add:
I got a Q build series drive unit this time! The last replacement one that started moaning was a way earlier build. J?
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SeminoleFSU
Voluntaryist
It usually took me 5-10k miles before I noticed the clunk again. THe good news is that i've been on this drive unit for a while and the groan is starting to come back slightly above 85MPH but they have definitely improved something as it's taking much longer to creep back after they work on it. Although I suppose some of that could be due to fewer launches/demo rides and generally being a more conservative driver now that the Tesla grin fun pedal is old hat
SeminoleFSU
Voluntaryist
Good to know. I get so many different answers from staff when I ask questions... SMH
Half shafts are out of warranty replacement items believe it or not. And usually are not replaced as part of a DU swap. I believe they should be regularly repacked though...
