Axle ping/click and ABS light, 1996 850

[erikv11]

Thinking about it, it seems the only mount that might do this is the one behind the passenger wheel, and that is more like a clunk and more noticeably heard on the LHS. That top mount needs replacing. Torque mount maybe bad, I can't tell. True, you could fix bad mounts and see if it goes away, but I'd probably keep investigating.

[scot850]

The top one is bad, the lower one is probably bad (hard to tell with all the old oil in the back one but it looks like it has failed).The front and rear cone shaped ones seldom fail but will sag with age. Check the other main mount under the crank pulley on the RHS. They fail by the rubber and metal base plate separating. Best to remove the RHS front wheel, and support the car. The jack the engine under the RH end of the oil pan slightly and then check from the RH wheel arch and see if the mount is solid. When jacking under the oil pan a piece of wood between the jack and the oil pan is good to prevent damage and spread the load.

Neil.

[MDK]

Hey eleaf.. MDK here. Yeah those photos help. That top motor mount is done. The bottom one, not too good. They are filled with a green hydraulic fluid. If there is no leakage or tears in the bottom two, maybe ok. The other one is under the radiator. The one guy is right about pre- loading the A arms though. I wouldn't worry to much about the trans mount, but every little bit helps. Also check the bushing that mounts to fire wall. I used an ipd polyurethane for the top mount... about ten bucks. I unbolted it and lifted it aside and put a hacksaw blade in there and cut it down to the metal bracket...gently... and pushed it out. The new one went in like butter... you'll be fine.

[erikv11]

I really dislike those poly upper engine mounts, they transmit a lot of vibration into the cabin.

[scot850]

+1 with you Erik on Polybushes.

Neil.

[eleaf]

...
If it is a bad control arm bushing it will give the same click when you brake - any time the weight shifts forward or backward. So far you have only mentioned the click/ping under transmission load change, if does it with braking too I would (unfortunately) keep the control arm (and the engine mount(s)) as a possibility. If not under braking, seems you have zeroed in on the axle.

I couldn't seem to reproduce the noise when in neutral and braking, only happens when engaged at least partially in a gear (accelerating then releasing throttle while in gears 1 or 2, or as the clutch starts to be released in a lower gear).

Edit: Haven't been able to check the right hand bottom mount yet, but I did check records and the passenger side lower motor mount was replaced about 2 years ago.

[erikv11]

So most likely is the drive train, not mounts or suspension. Sounds like a bad axle yes ... bad CV or not installed correctly, or other defects have shown up randomly in the aftermarket axles.