Rear axle play

Hi all,
After a year away from Jimny's I'm back with another softtop. This time a 2005.

When I pull away in first or reverse I can hear a slight 'clunk', more noticeable in reverse. I never had this sound on my old 2002 softtop. It's not bad, but is noticeable.

I stuck the car in gear and got under the car to rock it and the sound (play) is in the rear axle. All the bushes seem fine and so is the propshaft.

This car is pretty much like new with only 23,000 on the clock and one granny as a owner. I'm guess that lack of use may have cause this problem.

As the car has Suzuki dealer warranty, I will try and get them to do the work if possible.

Any help appreciated

Paul
Hertford

check the transfer box is not loose - this can give a clunk as you pull away if it is

Also nip up the radius arm bush bolts. I had this before and it was the crush tubes on the bushes moving in the mount as there is a little bit of movement on the bolt to the crush tube and it can make more noise than you'd anticipate.

Kirkynut

Cheers chaps. I'll have another look in the morning.

I did check the radius arm bushes and couldn't detect any play, but will look again.

If it isn't radius arm bushes or transfer box mounts. What is there in the rear axle that could cause that play?

Laying under the car and rocking it (while in gear) the noise comes from the axle.

Cheers
Paul
Hertford

After another dive under the car, I can confirm that is not mounts or bushes. It must be either the transfer box or rear axle.

Anyone got an idea what this could be?

Paul
Hertford

put the parking brake on and turn the rear prop back and forth and see how much back lash the diff has
also while your there grab the rear wheel while its on the ground parking brake on and hold the wheel at 9 & 3 oclock and go back and forth to see how much the prop end of the diff moves up and down

check how tight your wheel nuts are