Re: Milano drive shaft noise

[AKress1948@domain.elided]

FYI - my milano started to make an odd pinging sound - but it seemed to come 
from under the car - not from the engine. Only noticed it at slow speeds, 
starting from rest - although it may have just been drowned out at higher 
speeds.  Only came on throttle application, not on coast or decel.  got to be 
very loud very quickly - people in other cars would turn to look.
took it to Accel in Waltham, where Brian listened and uttered some of the 
most chilling words that any service tech can say..."Gee I've never heard a 
noise like that before".  Great, now i have a science project!!!
put it on the lift.  the noise definitely seemd to be coming from the drive 
shaft.  From under the car, it sounded like someone was rapping on the drive 
shaft w/ a ball peen hammer - hard.  If you stood up by the front, it seemed 
to come from the rear.  if you stood by the rear, it seemed to come from the 
front.  no rubbage anywhere on exhaust or other parts. loosened and tightend 
the splined end.  drive shaft bearing seemed to be ok.   no apparent unwanted 
motion in the drive shaft.  nothing visible through the clutch cover, engine 
seemed quiet. stumped.  brian deduced/guessed that the only thing left was 
the spring loaded clip at the ball pivot???? in the nose of the drive shaft 
halves - perhaps one of them had stuck or broken or something.  
pulled them, sure enough - it was in the rear half (sure couldn't have been 
in the front, had to make him go through it all).  clean, lube, reassemble.  
3.5 hours later, all better.     
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