Hi Guys: Brand-new tonight to the site. 1965 Riviera, 401 nailhead; 115k miles. Sometimes, not always, I get a loud "clanking" sound seemingly coming from the right-side rear end while driving. The speed of the clanking matches the speed of the car. Taking the car out of gear while moving (neutral) does not stop the clanking. To date, this is what I have done: Pulled the axle and replaced the axle bearings and seals Pulled center section and checked the vent operation Checked driveshaft and U bolts Turned both rear drums while they were off Replaced the lube I am out ideas at this point. I welcome any suggestions you may have. Maybe I am just missing simple? Thanks in advance, Frank O'Donnell
Frank: Please put your name in your signature, we are all here on a friendly first name base :TU: And don't forget to introduce yourself (and your Buick) in the Wet behind the ears?? section of the board :Smarty: Do you have factory hubcaps on your Riviera? The next time you hear that noise, remove the rear hubcaps and listen if it's gone.
Frank, First, welcome to V8Buick. You're gonna find lots of great people here. Now, about the noise. Have you inspected the entire suspension (linkages, bushings, shocks) in the suspect area? Since you've basically eliminated the differential as a culprit, take a look at all the connecting points. I once had a Chevy with an issue similar to this and it turned out to be an upper control arm bushing. Joe
Does the car have a posi.rear? If so have you added the rear clutch additive for it? Is the noise worse when up to temp?
From ROA forum- possible cause? This problem was dubbed "Riviera Rattle" by early Riviera owners ... and was covered numerous times in Riview Q&As, particularly in the early years of the ROA. If you've bought the ROA Riview CD or have back issues, the issues of Volume 4, #3, Volume 4, #5, Volume 9, #3, and Volume 10, #5 will all have some pertinence. The last one, Volume 10 #5 showed where Riv expert Leonard Scott traced the noise source to wear of the vapor return line against the trunk floor pan. There's a photo showing the exact rub spot in that issue. This problem only exists for 1st generation Rivieras...
