LOUD NOISE...NOT GOOD???

[DEVILDOG]

Had the Viper out yesterday after installing some Dynomax 12" bullit racing mufflers for some high rpm, high speed sound testing. Re-entered my closed course test highway on an on ramp that I had not previously been on and ran 1st gear up to 5600 rpm for shift to 2nd at the crest of the ramp where there was a raised transistion seam (our tax $$$s at work) in the ramp right where my rear wheels were at the shift. Heard an extremely loud metal to metal bang. I have Unitrax extreme duty half shafts. The owner of Kinney's mufler shop was with me so we went back and put it up on the lift to inspect for any damage. I checked the rearend, halfshafts, mounting points, springs, etc. and did not notice any apparant damage (also have had the 998 frame recall done. Seems to run and handle fine, however, I'm still concerned I may have missed something as the noise was very loud and I have never heard anything like it before. Is there any explanation for the noise that would be normal in those circumstances that I need not worry about? Could it have been full spring compression? I was going too fast to notice any rear end squat. Thanks for any input.

[Casey]

Were you going straight or a curve when you heard the sound?

[DEVILDOG]

Going straight up a 30 degree incline.

[SylvanSRT]

shock bottoming out possibly?

[1 Bad Snake]

Are you still hearing the noise? If so, I would check to make sure that your mufflers didn't come loose. I had one of the clamps come loose when I first put my new system on and it made a pretty good bang when it came loose, you may also notice a small vibration that is what lead me to the problem.

[DEVILDOG]

No...mufflers were welded in no clamps and all exhaust hangers are intact. Thanks for the input though.

[DEVILDOG]

shock bottoming out possibly?

Possibly. I have never experienced this before so don't know. The odds of hitting a high rpm/tq shift right on top of a raised pavement seam while traveling up a 30 degree incline are pretty remote. Was wondering if anyone else had had that happen and experienced the noise.

[SylvanSRT]

pot hole? do you have those in texas?

[DEVILDOG]

pot hole? do you have those in texas?

No pothole. It was as I described. However, we do have potholes. Mostly we have steep incline entrances to driveways and from the roads to other public, business entrances and unbelievable dips in the roads especially at intersections. No way I'll ever lower my car even though I'd like to.

[Blue Pilot]

Why are our tax dollars funding your private road course?

[DEVILDOG]

Why are our tax dollars funding your private road course?

Trying to create jobs that can't be done in China or India.

[SapphireGTS]

I have had a loud clunk at downshift. The weld on the rear exhaust hanger was busted and it was the sound of the exhaust hitting the bottom of my car.

If it drives fine, doesnt smoke, and doesnt smell funny, its probably a fluke.

[Torquemonster]

MOst cars have rubber stoppers which still create a loud bang when a car is bottomed out - but if the sound was metal on metal I don't know - unless there are no rubber stoppers on the Viper - I've never checked.

Even one wheel hitting the stoppers can make your teeth fall out. Shouldn't damage anything though unless you were jumping it

[DEVILDOG]

MOst cars have rubber stoppers which still create a loud bang when a car is bottomed out - but if the sound was metal on metal I don't know - unless there are no rubber stoppers on the Viper - I've never checked.

Even one wheel hitting the stoppers can make your teeth fall out. Shouldn't damage anything though unless you were jumping it

Thanks. Makes sense. My teeth didn't fall out, however, it did scare the $hit out of me. Anyone know if we have rubber stoppers?

[ab]

devildog,

I don't think it was a case of bottoming out, I think you would have noticed scrapes under your car. I had something similar happen to me before. I was 1st gear one time and rev it about 4500 rpms and push in my clutch then shifted to 2nd real fast and I heard this loud "bang!" from the rear. I thought I had busted my transmission or shafts. I looked under the car and found no damage. I suspect the noise came from gears hitting real hard or something like that. I have had no problems ever since. When I did shift into second, I think I had a little wheel hop going and maybe when you shifted you got a little air too.