ok so ive been noticing this for a while now. i hear this loud clunking sound when idleing right behind the console and sort of at the bottom of the back seat. and i also notice it when i am driving and i let off the gas or when i shift. one of my friends said it was probley the U joints. since they only do it when you let off it means they are wore and have slop and play too much. also about 2 months ago a kid in a T/A had the same thing but it turned out to be a busted rear tranny mount. i need to check this out and get it taken car of probley but how in the hell do you check U joins. and my chiltons has nothing about them. unless my dads knows how this is gonna be real fun. oh well thanks for the help in advance.
Universal Joints?????
- Thread starter evn_05
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First if the clanking and clunkin is that bad then you need to check like super fast. if its u-joint its on the verge of major catastrophy.to check jack up car in rear or put on lift if you can. make sure you use safty precautions. jack stands . put tranny in park or gear and then rotate the shaft back and forth check the front. then put e brake on ,tranny.in nuetral and check the back if the clanking is that bad you won't have any trouble seeing it. if they are good and tight then may be tranny mount. check mount by using jack under tailshaft of tranny. jack it up and see if the mount seperates. could also be bad bushings in the tranny crossmember .
i agree with C.E. to elaborate in case of doubt... if you grab the driveshaft on either side of the joint, try to turn them against eachother. twist back and forth. there should be no slop. if any is felt, replace them asap, as mentioned. imagine the driveshaft whippin around under the car, hitting everything it can find. it will take out brake lines, etc. not cool. there are two. one front and one rear. generally, the rear seems to go out about twice as often as the front. my experience.
the trans mount stuff is right on and better than i could have described. Chevyeater-
the trans mount is only around 10-15 bucks for parts store replacement. piece of cake to do. on mine, i had to transfer a metal bar in it to the new one. poly mounts are around 35 bucks, if you want to go that route. u joints from parts store are under ten bucks. get as heavy duty a unit as you can.
if its a u joint, you can use a drift (read socket and hammer) to drift the caps out. or you can get a loaner ball joint press. its a big c-clamp, and i think it would work (i used a 6.5 inch clamp when doing mine and its a pretzel now). no good if they are stuck. you dont have to R/R the driveshaft to do them, though it is easier for some (i dont cuz im lazy and dont want to remove the exhaust). also, mark the drive shaft and pumpkin flange so it bolts up the same. also mark each end of the driveshaft before you remove the u joint, so you can put if back together in the same orientation. the driveshafts are dynamically balanced. if you get them oriented wrong, you could get some vibs. not good for the driveline. easy job. anyone can do it (in case you have doubts). good luck,
pretty easy stuff.
the trans mount stuff is right on and better than i could have described. Chevyeater-
the trans mount is only around 10-15 bucks for parts store replacement. piece of cake to do. on mine, i had to transfer a metal bar in it to the new one. poly mounts are around 35 bucks, if you want to go that route. u joints from parts store are under ten bucks. get as heavy duty a unit as you can.
if its a u joint, you can use a drift (read socket and hammer) to drift the caps out. or you can get a loaner ball joint press. its a big c-clamp, and i think it would work (i used a 6.5 inch clamp when doing mine and its a pretzel now). no good if they are stuck. you dont have to R/R the driveshaft to do them, though it is easier for some (i dont cuz im lazy and dont want to remove the exhaust). also, mark the drive shaft and pumpkin flange so it bolts up the same. also mark each end of the driveshaft before you remove the u joint, so you can put if back together in the same orientation. the driveshafts are dynamically balanced. if you get them oriented wrong, you could get some vibs. not good for the driveline. easy job. anyone can do it (in case you have doubts). good luck,
pretty easy stuff.
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