Weird noise on back end when reversing

[MaveriK]

G'day all,

Hope we can find a solution to this problem. When my GF visited me in her 1999 Ford ZX2, there were a few problems. Got most of them fixed (Like her Ex put a new air intake....didn't run the vacumm tube..) but so far one problem has perplexed me.

The car sounds fine, but when she puts the car into Reverse, a loud "clunk clunk clunk" comes from the back of the car. The car is an automatic. When she goes into drive, no more noise.

Here recently, she reports (She's off at college, so she tells me over the phone) that it seems to be making that noise when she is at a stand still now too.

I'm perplexed as to what it is. She had another note, but it has not happened again, and only once: She pressed the gas and the car didn't want to go...she released and pressed again, and it went (she was already going, just trying to pick up some extra speed to pass a car).

I told her when she comes back down, I was going to change the fuel filter as standard maintenance, but would like to deal with the knocking noise if possible. Anyone know what it might be, or things I could check while i'm working on the car anyways?

Her Ex also put a cherry bomb exhaust on it....but I figured if it was the muffler rattling from him not installing it right, it would rattle and clunck in drive too.

Thanks for the help.

Regards,
MaveriK

[bov3220]

well its not the exhaust, your right it would make all sorts of noise no matter if it was farward or reverse.

are you sure the noise is comming from the rear?

a buddie had the same problem and it turned out to be a half shaft

just my

[MaveriK]

Well, when she comes here Valentine's weekend, I'll be able to take the car and try to pin point it a little bit better.

Half shaft...hmm looks like I'll have to see how much i trust my girlfriend, and have her have the car running and slowly rolling back while im trying to look and listen, lol. Any thing that you can see that will tell you the half shaft is bad? But if it was the half shaft...why only in reverse, since its required to turn the wheel, it should do the same sound in drive too, shouldn't it?

[bov3220]

some times yes some times no, most of the time it will make a clicking noise when your turning the wheel and in drive or reverse. but on my buddies car it made that clunking noice and the shop he took it to told him thats what it was and replaced it. he lives almost 6 hours away or i would had tooled with it , im just going by what he said

hope it helps ya out some