About a week ago, I first started hearing an intermittent (30% of the time) thumping noise coming from the right side of my Camry, between the rear of the front wheel and back of the front door.

Last Wednesday, I heard and felt a rumbling noise, like a flat tire. Turned out my left CV joint separated from the transmission. That was repaired last Friday, but the thumping noise started up again today. Last Friday, I checked the right CV joint (boots look new) and the two 12 mm bolts were tight (I slightly overtightened them to be on the safe side).

1989 Camry with 150k miles

 

Did you replace the shaft or a shop?
If a shop, I suggest bringing it back to them to fix. Maybe it is a bad shaft.
Other things to check: tire wear, tie rods, struts.

 

Thanks.

The shop replaced the entire LEFT CV drive shaft, but not right. I don't know what you mean by "shop." Right CV drive shaft boot intact.

 

By 'shop' I mean the place that did the work/mechanic.
I meant to ask whether you did the work yourself or paid a place to do it.
Sorry for the confusion.

 

Thanks.

I took it to a shop I trust. The transmission spline came off and some of the splines bent, such that the spline would not go back in the transmission. The spline is no longer made, but there's a spline/CV joint assembly that fit and they used.

However, despite my asking them to check the right CV, they didn't do it. I checked it myself, but could only access two nuts, which seemed tight (spec is 27 ft-lbs per shop), but didn't check torque, so to be safe I tightened them a little bit more; they seemed to be easily stripped, so I didn't overtighten.

 

Take it back to the shop if you are still having the issue. They should stand behind their work, plus, you trust them.
Keep us posted please.

 

Thanks for your replies. The noise went away on its own, and I never saw or figured out what the problem was. The car runs fine, and I was too busy to take it more immediately to the mechanic. I suppose I lucked out this time with being busy and I know that I'm playing Russian Roulette with that laxity.

 

Great!

 

Yes and thanks to you all for your help.

 

My pleasure!