Bad vibration in low gears uphill

[91GSXprime]

Hi guys new member.

Recently I have been experiencing really bad vibrations when going up slightly steep inclines-steep inclines in first/second/third gear at low rpms ~3000. The vibrations are extremely violent and it feels centered nearly center of the car or slightly on the passenger side (possibly perfectly centered it may just be my position as the driver thinking slightly to the passenger side). It tends to only occur going uphill and gets worse once it starts if i give it gas. It tends to sound like a loud banging and usually follows with a ping of what sounds to be hollow metal sound like its somehow contacting the exhaust.

Not sure what causes it because some hills are fine and some spots on my current commute it always seems to happen. I believe it is getting progressively worse. Had it looked at by a couple "mechanics" (work at an oil change) to see if a u-joint were lose or something along those lines and they both told me it was likely the clutch. To me it feels like drivetrain.

Any suggestions of what it could be?

 

[97gst_spyder]

Did you check the motor mounts? How about get all four tires off the ground and check for driveline play.

 

[91GSXprime]

Can't get the car off the ground this till this weekend any visual inspections or ways i can check for play the way it sits? If it where a motor mount which one is most likely to go?

Thanks for the quick reply


Update:

Took a broom handle and pushed on the driveshaft at the 2-piece joint between firewall and throttlebody. No play as far as i can tell down at least. Gunna try and get up under and see if i can get a different angle.

The motor mounts seem to be fine as far as i can tell. No major cracks I can see.

What else should I be looking for?

Update 2:

Got under the car. There is play at the join right behind catalytic converter in the left and right direction. is that normal? i can fairly easily move it left and right with my hand and the bushing is making noise like a rubber squishing around sound.

bump with picks of joint with lots of play

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The driveline is resting very low in the bearing. Tried to capture as best as possible. There is quite a bit of play at the joint above in all directions. Not sure if this is causing my problems...

 

[91GSXprime]

Bump... Looks like a bad carrier bearing and which i think is causing the u-joint to go bad because their is a slight clicking when i turn the driveshaft. Or vice versa. Would this cause the type of jerking/vibration as described above?

 

[KYNDL7]

Yes that carrier bearing looks to be shot out and from the pics its got enough play you can clearly see the drive lines not centered in the bearing. I bet that's whats causing that horrible vibration when under load going up an incline.