My XKR has this annoying issue where I get this loud creaking/cracking sound when I'm getting on and off the gas hard.


I found two videos that have almost exactly the same sound in the same circumstances in other cars where the problem was known or found to be driveshaft-related.




My question is, is there anywhere I can easily get to underneath the car where I can just squirt some grease and see if that helps any of the creaking/popping?

 

Oh, another thing which I thought was related to the brakes or the plastic undertray (which is apparently not) is a loud jingling sound from the front of the car that happens over even the tiniest of bumps. I was doing some research and it appears that this may also be related to a driveshaft issue.

 

Hmmmm... according to the shop manual, it says if I have:

"Clicking, popping, or grinding noises

Possible Source(s):
· Inadequate or contaminated lubrication in the rear drive halfshaft constant velocity (CV)
joint.
Action(s) to take:
· INSPECT, CLEAN and LUBRICATE with new grease as necessary.
Possible Source(s):
· Another component contacting the rear drive halfshaft.
Action(s) to take:
· INSPECT and REPAIR as necessary.
Possible Source(s):
· Wheel bearings, brakes or suspension components.
Action(s) to take:
· INSPECT and INSTALL new components as necessary."

I think I'm going to start with the CV joints.

 

I wanted to say, sorry i can't be of any help, but i like your videos, the view , the car seems really low, sometimes the rear look like a porsche....

 

Looks like a Porsche? What an insult!

 

well yes you right but there is an angle i like from the porsche, i could see it in yours....

 

I'm beginning to think it's a problem related to the right rear axle.

This is a really common problem with G35s and 350Zs. Apparently the axle input splines/interface between the axle and differential get rusted/dry/corroded. The solution is to take the axle out and clean the interface and grease it.

How i got rid of my rear axle clicking noise - G35Driver

I wish there were a way to grease the splines without having to disassemble everything. Do you think a normal shop can do this? Or do I need to take it to a dealer? It doesn't sound particularly complicated.

 

Don't second guess the problem. Take the car to the Jaguar professional who can pinpoint any problems.

What may be expensive to fix, may be the cheapest way to go in the long run.

You will probably drive yourself crazy speculating of what is wrong. Save yourself some anxiety.

 

My dealer said "it's normal, it's the brakes clicking". I brought it up to them on multiple visits. I have lost all faith in Jaguar dealerships' ability to do anything. If anything, the Jaguar dealerships add more to my anxiety!

I'm going to take it to a non-Jaguar shop and see what they can do to diagnose it. There is a reputable shop just a couple blocks from my office.

 

A Jaguar professional does NOT have to be the dealership.

 

A couple of plastic ramps are just magic for access to underside; front or rear. I say "plastic" because they have rubber non skid pads. Metal ones just slide away too easily.
Mine are ' Blitz Rhino Ramps'....................

TTFN, Adrian

 

I have Rhino Ramps. The rubber feet fell off, though!

I did get under there a couple months ago (maybe I should do it again). I couldn't see anything wrong visually. No torn boots, everything looked like new under there--I was surprised. Maybe I should try spraying some penetrating oil into the interface of the axle and the differential?

 

I dropped the car off at the non-dealer non-Jaguar repair shop today. They had a technician ride with me and I demonstrated the noise, which he said he heard clearly and is definitely coming from the right rear area of the car. That's about 10 steps further than I got from the Jaguar dealership.

I am optimistic!

 

Shop came back and said it's definitely the axle. Quoted me $1100 for replacement, which I agreed to. They said they would charge $800 for the part, and $200 something for the labor. The rest is taxes and shop fees. I looked up the axle on Gaudin Jaguar Parts, and they have it for $600, but the shop won't let me bring my own parts, which I can understand--they deserve to make a profit.

No wonder the local dealer played dumb with me and claimed the noise was the brakes when the car was still under warranty--they didn't want to take an $1100 bath.

 

wow. That's not my experience with the dealerships I prefer to frequent. But I am certainly pleased you found the problem. Keep us posted on the solution.

Incidentally, what is the mileage on your car?

 

About 60k miles. I'm a little surprised that I haven't found anyone else with the same issue.

 

Well to be fair, this certainly isn't a common issue.
At 35,000 I wonder what I can do to circumvent this possible outcome.
I also wonder if there was a TSB issued... I don't have access to this data anymore. Perhaps someone else does??

 

I think ultimately, the splines are just dried out where the interface of the axle and differential is. However, I don't want to pay the $250-300 of labor just to have the issue not fixed, and then have to pay the labor charge again to install a new axle.

 

Good thinking!

 

IT'S FIXED!!!!!!!!!! I cannot believe it. It's amazing!!

They diagnosed it as a bad axle. Not sure exactly what was wrong with the axle, but they replaced the right rear axle and VOILA! No more annoying clicking. No more cringing when I get heavy on the gas pedal. Best $1,200 I ever spent.