Creaky Puma (and another noise)

[AMC Rebel]

The Puma has started making a really loud creaking when going around slow corners and over speed bumps etc.  I thought it would be a broken spring.  I jacked it up and found the creaking seems to be coming from the top mount.  I know there are other Puma lickers on here - anyone had this?  Easy job? anything I should know?

 

While I'm on, there is a sort of scraping noise coming from the front when turning - it's in time with the wheels/driveshafts.  Whilst it was jacked up I turned the wheel the scraping (and an associated ominous clunking) seems to be coming from where the nearside driveshaft goes into the gearbox - and there's a bit more play in that end of the driveshaft than I'd imagine is ideal - I am suspecting som bearings in the box - maybe the diff?

 

Since it only cost £300 I can't really expect too much from it - and if the gearbox is dying it could be the end of Puma - but I wonder if there's anyone here with Puma wisdom.

[AMC Rebel]

Gratuitous pic The oil stain is from something else 

 

[beko1987]

Out of my league I'm afraid, posted on project puma?

[Jazoli]

The creaking will most probably be top mounts which isn't too bad a job really, dunno about the other noise.

 

Project Puma is a very handy resource.

[AMC Rebel]

Yeah I ballsed up my project Puma signup by inexplicably claiming to be a child (must learn to read) so they sent me a form for my Dad to fill in.  I guess I'll need to try again with a different e-mail address.

[beko1987]

Lol, just pretend to be your dad?

 

I'd just make a new gmail address up and have it auto send everything to your usual address

[beko1987]

One of the most fun days I've ever had was a project puma meetup, 18 of us having a drive about! Didn't help that my clutch was at the fucked stage of it's life though, and knowing the roads we went on I fucking hooned it at the front of the pack, came across a hill and got pissed off at the slippage and redlined it up there stinking of clutch, the lass in the FRP behind me was very patient. I slunk to the back of the convoy after that!

 

http://www.projectpuma.com/viewtopic.php?f=115&t=10440&p=157384#p157384

 

My pictures are gone from there, will have copies on the server somewhere though! Mine's the black one (well, was )

[AMC Rebel]

Cool, I'll even be able to view all that once I sort my login out

[beko1987]

Ah, didn't realise it was hidden! My details still work!

[AMC Rebel]

Everything is hidden on there behind a login for some reason

[sierraman]

Top mount isn't too difficult a job providing you've got the clamps to compress the spring. The bit most likely to encounter trouble is undoing the pinch bolt on the strut then hammering the hub carrier off. Douse it thoroughly in penetrating fluid, possibly use windy gun to loosen nut off. Likely than not to shear will be the pinch bolt holding the bottom joint to the hub, one end is a torx head bolt the other is the nut - again if you've access to impact this will possibly make this easier.

 

Don't know what the noise is from the gearbox, might it be the inner driveshaft joint. I'd doubt it's the diff bearings, you'd hear that whilst driving, in any case they can go for thousands like that. Start worrying when you can't eat the radio.

[AMC Rebel]

 Start worrying when you can't eat the radio.

Ouch! My teeth hurt.

[AMC Rebel]

Well that's bleeding weird.  Disco is in for MOT today so I had to go out in the Puma - and it's stopped creaking.  Either whatever it was has fallen off, of the act of jacking it up and letting it down again has cured it.

 

The other odd thing is the range of top mount prices - from about 12 quid on eBay to over 60 on Euro Car Parts - and no doubt more at my local factors.

[sierraman]

For a old snotter id say go with EBay if you can get an SKF item for same as a crappy Q drive one from ECP