Slack in drivetrain

[Jamesdorsey89]

I am trying to pinpoint a problem in my drive-train. I bought the car for 900 and am working on fixing it up. One problem I can't really figure out is this one. The noise happens when in 3rd, 4th, or 5th gear at lower rpm's. At first I thought it was the drive-shaft slapping around. It sounded like metal on metal clunking, almost like the exhaust banging around. It only happened at low rpm and would go away upon further acceleration.

I looked around and couldn't find marks that would be there from the contact of the two parts. When I replaced the fluid in the transmission, transfer case, and rear differential, the noise got better. It still happened, but not as violent. Today I went and secured a camera on the bottom of my car to see if I could hear or see anything. The problem is the noise isn't there anymore. So I took a video of the wheel slop.

Although it doesn't make the same violent noise as before, it makes a small clunk when letting the clutch out even when shifting sometimes. It sounds like it is taking up slack in the drive-train. Also it bucks pretty bad in first gear when decelerating to a creep.

I took a video of the drive shaft slop and wheel slop. This is with the right rear tire in the air and the others on the ground. I am not sure how much slop there should be. It seems like there is little slop in the drive shaft, but most of it being in between the Transfer case and transmission. I am just not sure how much slack there should be.

Anything suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

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[sinistercrumb]

Im not sure about the bucking, but as far as the metal on metal noise try checking there's a metal sleeve on the back of your transfer case where the driveshaft slides on. In my 1g mine got loose some how and i would hear clanging in lower rpms and sometimes not at all. What happened is the vibrations of the car would make the sleeve slide back and hit the driveshaft while it was spinning. I just put some goop around it, let it dry. and walah. might not be it but worth a check.

 

[Colt4G63 also]

If you knew how many pieces have to push against each other to transfer power from the flywheel to the back wheel, you wouldn't be suprized.

Check all the driveshaft and axle components, then check for slack in the rear differential because they commonly have a lot. If there's looseness up front, it's going to be impossible to pinpoint without removing the transfer case. Keep in mind the transmission has a differential on the rear output shaft. You can also have loose springs in your clutch disk, so good luck finding it. I just try to shift just right so I don't hear the slack noises.

 

[Jamesdorsey89]

Ok, has been a little while. I have been busy at work and putting in new control arm bushings so I haven't been able to diagnose it much. Well on the way to my cousins shop, I was able to listen a little better and the noise is definitely coming from the front.

While on the lift I was able to turn the drive shaft with my hand and the slack is up front for sure. I can tell that it is either the input to the transfer case or the transmission. I haven't had time to take the transfer case off yet, but that is my next plan of action.

So if its in the transmission right around the transmission, is it the center differential? I'm not to familiar with how power is transferred to the transfer case. I'm hoping that its just the transfer case.

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[bigbird]

Put the car on the ground, ebrake off and in gear with the engine off. (park if it's an auto). open the hood and rock the car back and forth while listening for the noise. the engine should rock back and forth in the engine bay.

it is most likely axles, mounts or a transmission. have a friend push the car back and forth, rocking the engine while you feel stuff. put your hands on the inner and outer cv joints and the front and rear motor mounts. if one of your mounts collapsed and the metal on both sides is rubbing that can easily be your noise.

 

[moronthr33]

it doesnt look like a ton of slack but you could always check your u joints just grab the drive shaft and tug around up down left to right if its got play replace it