My '90 Loyale AWD turbo's making a strange ticking sound from the rear end somwhere when it's rolling. It's gotten louder over time. I've checked the diff oil level and it's fine. It doesn't sound like a bearing noise, either. My gut feeling is that it's a CV joint, but all of the boots are good. Could a joint be bad anyway? Could it be the driveshaft and/or u-joint? The car has 142K miles. Thanks, Dave

Jack up the car, turn the wheels, and listen for where the noise is coming from. The joints could very well be bad even if the boots are fine, but generally the rears last a long time.

If they are the original(hopefully not) axles, then it is pretty probable that one of them could have gone bad. Otherwise, those good ol' wheel bearings may need to be regreased or replaced.

Craw under and shake the rear u-joint around. Mine has sideways play and makes a funny rattle at low speed. I figure the car doesn't have enough power to break anything, so I'll fix it later. Russell

I like Russell's way of thinking,"If it ain't broke, wait 'til it breaks.":lol: J/K

Mine was making kind of a faint ticking sound, speed related, just before WCSS. Replaced the u-joints (driveshaft), voila..noise gone.

 

Just my 2 bucks

Studded snow tires on rear?

 

My votes the U joint in the driveshaft.

I may have this same problem. 1990 Loyale, very noticable when coasting to a stop cause the tick/clicking slows as the car slows in speed. It is definitely coming from the rear.

 

I just wrecked my 94 loyale in the worst of ways so I am gonna rob it for parts to fix my '90 what do you guys think it is? U-joint @ gearbox?