[dr. feelgood]

Hey guys, I'm working on my latest project quad, a Suzuki KingQuad 750 shaft drive with IRS. I would ask this question over on the Suzuki forums, but the one I am a member of is pretty dead anymore. I'm guessing it's pretty similar to Hondas with IRS. Anyway, the thing runs great but makes a clacking noise from the rear at pretty much all speeds, and is worse when turning or zig-zagging. I am trying to determine the source of the noise. I can't figure it out while I'm driving, so I had my wife drive at slow speeds and I followed along behind. Still can't pinpoint it. So I lifted the rear up with my floor jack, and start it up and get the wheels spinning at a pretty good clip, and the sound doesn't happen! So it would appear it's something with the diff under load, or possibly the rear axle shafts at certain angles?

Anybody have a similar experience? I'm not a utility quad guy by any means, so I am still new to shaft drives and differentials. I'm way more comfortable with chains and sprockets. I'm hoping it's a bad cv joint and not the diff.

Rob

 

[Manny]

Sure sounds like a bad CV to me. especially under torque/load when your zig zagging.

tell tale sign.

have the wife drive and you slump over the back and put your ear down by the tire, you should get a better indication that way.

 

[dr. feelgood]

I pulled each axle out this morning. Took about 10 minutes per side, WAY quicker than disassembling a solid rear axle through a swingarm! It appears the left side inner cv joint is bad. It will move smoothly for the most part but if I spin it in a circle it will sometimes catch and hang up. I can only assume this is the issue. The other side moves smoothly in all directions. Interestingly, it appears that this one that is bad has already been replaced with an aftermarket unit, and is now bad again. Apparently it didn't last too long considering it's a 2011 model. The side that is still good looks to be OEM, so I am going with a good used OEM unit replacement for the bad one.

Rob

 

[wheelsquad]

Sounds like you found your problem. While you're working on it, check all the rear differential mounting bolts. The grizzlies sometimes have this same rear end clank happen and that is a common culprit. Same thing could happen with the King so might as well check it.