Bad U-joint?

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Bad U-joint?

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Camaro Forum >> Camaro Models >> 4th Generation >> V8 Tech >> Bad U-joint?

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Bad U-joint? - 5/4/2008 8:39:18 PM

Phantasos

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Hey guys- I was test driving the camaro I am planning to purchase in roughly three weeks- I am bringing a tech with me that I work with when I buy it- but I wanted to see what you guys would think this problem is...

When I accelerated from a stop- the car made a very loud distinct clucking noise- at first I thought it was the tires trying to gain traction because it moved the car when it made the noise(almost felt like the body was hitting the ground or something)- The guy who I am buying it from said that the owner before him had something installed to where it shifted harder(its an auto)- he said his mechanic friend confirmed that. Reading along the fourms I read something about this could be a bad u-joint?

I tried to pin point where this noise was coming from in the car- I could be wrong, but it seemed it was happening on the passenger side close to the front of the passenger seat...any ideas would be greatly appreciated

Also if its of any help when I acclerated from stop and it made the noise "thud thud thud" consectutively about 3-4 times till it got moving(I dont rember if it did that noise after we were going 30+ I dont think it did tho)

< Message edited by Phantasos -- 5/4/2008 8:52:08 PM >

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RE: Bad U-joint? - 5/4/2008 10:33:17 PM

SpecterGT260

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clucking?

i know i have issues with my ypipe hitting the area right beneath my feet when I take off, but the only reason i mention that is because you said it felt like something hitting the body. theres nothing that will cause you to shift faster that will make that noise on takeoff, so thats definitly not it.

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RE: Bad U-joint? - 5/4/2008 11:04:12 PM

95slvrZ28

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Sounds like the cat could be hitting the bottom of the car, either that or it has a broken transmission mount.

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RE: Bad U-joint? - 5/6/2008 10:51:46 AM

EnFuegoZ28

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Seeing as how I have the same issue right now, I would put my vote on tranny mount.

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RE: Bad U-joint? - 5/7/2008 5:09:27 PM

Phantasos

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quote:

ORIGINAL: EnFuegoZ28

Seeing as how I have the same issue right now, I would put my vote on tranny mount.

when I was explaining it to one of the techs at work thats exactly what they said!! Any Idea of how much that costs?

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RE: Bad U-joint? - 5/8/2008 5:34:04 PM

95slvrZ28

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$30 or so for a urethane transmission mount if you do the labor, after that you shouldn't have any issues.

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Exhaust clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WArqIB6esM

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RE: Bad U-joint? - 5/19/2008 8:45:34 PM

Phantasos

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Update: So again driving the car tonite my friend gave me some more information about the noise and where its coming from - the noise is coming directly from underneath the gear box(its an automatic) and makes the noise/thump when ever accelerating really hard- I think this might be a more serious problem than just the tranmission mount(although I hope I am wrong) any idea's?

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RE: Bad U-joint? - 7/2/2008 8:00:11 AM

wguy0122

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Man I am having the same problem, we think its a transmission mount also, its really annoying cause you cant put any heavy torque on it or it will do it, if you get it fixed let me know what it is, so I know myself.

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RE: Bad U-joint? - 7/2/2008 8:35:33 AM

bidicamaro

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Didn''t see anywhere what engine it has but that''s kind of ilrelivent (spelling?). There is a torque arm that connects to the rear end and the tailshaft of the transmission. I belive it''s function is to keep some of the axle wrap from happening but not posoitive. I know the bushings on those don''t seem to be of the best quality (thank the car ****s for OEM parts huh!) but I could deffinatly see how, under hard acceleration, the part that is supposed to be connected to the tranny isn''t and is slapping the under side of the car. Just my $.02 though...

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RE: Bad U-joint? - 7/2/2008 11:00:49 AM

z28pete

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Could be the transmission mount or the torque arm bushing. In any case it is good practice to change both at the same time. Also check the engine mounts, especially the driver side, which gets stressed out by hard drivings. A broken engine mount will eventually cause the transmission mount to fail also. By the way, a bad universal joint makes more of a bell like sound rather than a thud caused by the transmission hitting the floorboard.

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