Knocking From Driveshaft

[baza16]

Hello,

I have a loud knocking noise coming from the front of my 98 1.8 manual Avensis when going over bumps and potholes on the road. (It’s not the steering column, I sorted that a while back).

First thoughts were with the anti roll bar links, however on investigation the drivers side driveshaft has quite a bit of play (about 5mm in and out of the gearbox) and when I give it a tug it does create a knowing noise. Not as loud as when driving, but I suppose that will be amplified through the car while driving. The wheel bearings, the anti roll bar links and everything else seem fine.

Now I can handle basic mechanics, but this is a bit out of my league. If the knocking noise is coming from the driveshaft, what would be involved in this? Ie just replace the driveshaft, or is there a bearing or bush inside the gearbox that’s knackered. How long should the average garage take to replace the driveshaft.

Last of all is this dangerous.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Barry

[selfbuild]

Sounds to me more like the CV joint is worn.

When does the knocking noise sound worse? I'm betting it will be louder when turning..

[baza16]

Sounds to me more like the CV joint is worn.

When does the knocking noise sound worse? I'm betting it will be louder when turning..

Possibly, I will give it a go tomorrow. Its every little bump in the road I get knocking. I live down a bumpy track and I can hear it knocking from side to side as the car settles.

I will let you know how I get on. Thanks

[Q.S.]

Sounds to me more like the CV joint is worn.

When does the knocking noise sound worse? I'm betting it will be louder when turning..

Possibly, I will give it a go tomorrow. Its every little bump in the road I get knocking. I live down a bumpy track and I can hear it knocking from side to side as the car settles.

I will let you know how I get on. Thanks

I would be looking elsewhere. Driveshafts usually only make a noise from the CV joints when turning.

Bumps and potholes are unlikely to make a driveshaft noisy, look at suspension e.g. shock absorber attachment, bushes etc.

[baza16]

Sounds to me more like the CV joint is worn.

When does the knocking noise sound worse? I'm betting it will be louder when turning..

Possibly, I will give it a go tomorrow. Its every little bump in the road I get knocking. I live down a bumpy track and I can hear it knocking from side to side as the car settles.

I will let you know how I get on. Thanks

I would be looking elsewhere. Driveshafts usually only make a noise from the CV joints when turning.

Bumps and potholes are unlikely to make a driveshaft noisy, look at suspension e.g. shock absorber attachment, bushes etc.

There is definitely play in the driveshaft though. From what I have read I would hear clunking while turning (constant rotational clunking) This is not the case. Its more of a random rattling clunking if that makes any sense.

I will be putting the car into a garage soon, I was just wanting to have an idea of what it was before hand.

[baza16]

OK, had a good look round the car again giving everything a good tug to find anything that was loose. I had the front end up. Can't find any play in any of the steering or suspension components (to the untrained eye).

However there are two things I think it could be. The shield on the brake disk is loose on the bottom (the thin metal guard on the back of the disk). I can rattle it about and it does bang about a wee bit but it doesn't sound like the deep knocking that I'm getting.

Other thing is the Battery. Its not tied down to anything and is obvious that its not the original Battery. As it looks like there is a wee clamp at the bottom front that would go over a lip on the Battery. However the current battery does not have a lip. So I can't figure out how to tie it down. SO really its just sitting on a small metal plate. Maybe get some massive zip ties or something. ANy Ideas???

The car is booked in for next week. I would just rather not spend money paying someone to try and find the problem. Hopefully it will be the battery.