1994 Geo Prizm Geo Prizm clunking while driving slow

Tiny
RFXCASEY
  • MEMBER
  • 1994 GEO PRIZM
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 172,000 MILES
Hi, my 94 prizm is making a clunk, clunk, clunk while driving slow. The sound doesn't seem to speed up or slow down as you go faster or slower. As a matter of fact once you go over about 25mph it stops making the noise. I thought the CV axels might be worn out and they were so I replaced both and while it did help the drivability it didn't eliminate the noise. I was checking under the car to see what I could see and no wheel bearings or control arm seem to be loose. Could this be my differential bearing gone bad. I jacked up the front of the car and put it in drive so the wheels could free spin. I didn't hear any noise but where the CV axel comes out of the transfer case it seems like it's wobbling a lot. Any ideas would be much appreciated. If it is in the transer case/differencial can I get replacement parts for that easily?
Monday, April 6th, 2009 AT 7:25 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
MMPRINCE4000
  • MECHANIC
  • 8,548 POSTS
Check the fluid level in the differential, if low or out, that may be cause. When C axles were changed did they refill differential?
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Tuesday, April 7th, 2009 AT 7:37 AM
Tiny
RFXCASEY
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
No as a matter of fact I didn't but it hasn't been too long since and it was making that noise before. The E brake hasn't worked since we got the car and when you park on a hill you have to ease off the brake so the car doesn't roll and slam the transmission which is in park. I'm sure this over time hasn't done the differential any good.
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Tuesday, April 7th, 2009 AT 12:34 PM
Tiny
MMPRINCE4000
  • MECHANIC
  • 8,548 POSTS
There are two drain plugs for trans. One closer to front of car, one to the rear. The rear one is differential. You can remove it, should be about 2 quarts of Dextron III, then refil from fill bolt on rear of differential, near firewall (a pain in the rear to get to).
If differential is out of fluid, as I mentioned, you have to go no further in diagnosis, the diff. Is bad.
You can buy replacement E-brake cables from Toyota.
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Wednesday, April 8th, 2009 AT 8:10 AM

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