What's this clonk?

[Kendo]

What is “releasing” u joints? I don’t remember doing that when I replaced mine, and they don’t clonk.

[Triton]

When replacing  a u/j   sometimes the joint can be tight in a certain position. A few taps around the joint will usually sort it. I don't think it would make a noise but probably a vibration......

[Kendo]

Is that because some of the roller bearings are not quite lined up? When I replaced my ujs, I worried about the bearings staying in place as I pushed in the caps.

[BDA]

It helps to smear some (more) grease on the pins when you assemble the U-joint. That way they are more likely to stick to the cup and not get caught by the cross when you press them together.

[Triton]

As  BDA says , I always press a bit more grease into the rollers.   If  a roller has fallen over i don't  think there would be room to get the circlip in but not 100% sure about that. It's always easier with another pair of hands.....

[BDA]

If a needle falls over or is bent when you press the cross into the cup, you'll know!! If it just falls to the bottom of the cup, you should be able to use it again but if you bent a needle and you have the old U-joint, you can steal replacement needles from it. If not, you can get by with one or two less needles in the short term (eg. you need the car on the road quickly) but I'd start getting ready to install a new U-joint at your next opportunity and I would drive it pretty gently till then.

[HoraceM22]

Well bugger me. I've found it.
When taking my car out for a charity meet at the Classic Car Show last weekend, I again noticed this strange noise, but this time as it was early in the morning and nothing was going to be about, when I heard this noise, I just stopped immediately and got out of the car to AGAIN try and investigate what might be causing it and to my surprise, I found that what had been apparently coming from the back of the car was actually caused by the outer edge of the front R/H tyre scraping against front fold on the aluminium plate below the door.
This just now requires a gentle? tap to move it back against the wheel arch.
How annoying but at least that is another problem solved

[BDA]

Glad you found it! I don't think a tap will do it since it's fiberglass. I would get some 3M double stick badge tape or maybe a pop rivet. I think they were pop rivetted from the factory.

[Bryan Boyle]

Glad you found it! I don't think a tap will do it since it's fiberglass. I would get some 3M double stick badge tape or maybe a pop rivet. I think they were pop rivetted from the factory.

You are correct, Jim; looks like the rivet either departed the body, or the head wore through the fiberglass of the lower sill trim piece.  Either way, that flap has to be attached back to the body (I don't think double face trim tape alone would work for very long; you may have to go one size up in pop rivet...)

[314159td]

They make awesome little splittly rivets for fiberglass for those not familiar yet.

McMaster-Carr

[jbcollier]

Looks to me like your a-arms have slid off their pivot bushings.

[Dilkris]

Well bugger me. I've found it.
When taking my car out for a charity meet at the Classic Car Show last weekend, I again noticed this strange noise, but this time as it was early in the morning and nothing was going to be about, when I heard this noise, I just stopped immediately and got out of the car to AGAIN try and investigate what might be causing it and to my surprise, I found that what had been apparently coming from the back of the car was actually caused by the outer edge of the front R/H tyre scraping against front fold on the aluminium plate below the door.
This just now requires a gentle? tap to move it back against the wheel arch.
How annoying but at least that is another problem solved

Are you sure about this H? It is only the trim out of place?
Is the car tracking normally or pulling to one side?
Not wishing to promote "gloom and doom" H but I would have a look at the front suspension wear points - all good??

[Fotog]

Looks to me like your a-arms have slid off their pivot bushings.

Interesting!  What are you observing that makes you draw that conclusion, JB?

[jbcollier]

The fact that the tire is so close to the body.

[Fotog]

Thanks.  I was wondering if that was it. 😊