Technical Strange: wheels turning opposite way

[rendo]

I've recently had a few reasons to turn the engine by hand. when i was changing the points. and more recently when i've been replacing the n/s drive shaft gaitor.
I notice that when i try this by turning the wheels, with the car in gear, when i go forward on one side, the other wheel rotates backwards.

i now have a knocking noise when i go on the gas and off the gas, which i am trying to find the source of.
I've had the n/s driveshaft out and its very clean (engine only has 28kmiles). I've obviously had to refill the gearbox oil, so i'mm not really wanting to take the o/s driveshaft unless i have to.

any ideas, why the wheels rotate like this, and also any ideas on the knocking. I cant find any play in suspension joints. i do mean to check engine mounts as a possibility

 

[kolza]

wheels rotation while front are up in the air is correct, look for noise from rear gearbox/engine mount.

 

[Dragon Man]

yeah both wheels have to move independent of each other due to the fact that all wheels move at different speeds when you make a turn. to achieve this they use a thing called a differential.

a differential has 1 input and 2 outputs. the 2 outputs are the drive shafts, the input comes from the gearbox.

infact (if you are interested) heres a great video of how a differential works:




as for your knock issue, check what kolza said.. but also do checks on the bottom ball joints (under the front wheel hub).
i had one that had gone on my panda and it knocked and knocked.

hope this helps!