I have an 85 245.

My issue is now a clunk.

Here is a quick synopsis.

I replaced 8 of the 10 bushings. The only bushings I didn't replace (as of now) is the front bushings in the trailing arms. (Or a better way of saying it, I replaced the ones on the axle, but not the other ones).

I don't think it's my shocks or U-joints, but I'm open to them being the issue. I am going to check the whole under carriage of the car this weekend.

Here is the clunking circumstances. When I'm driving, there's always been a rattle, or like a rumble (I'm having a hard time figuring out how to describe the noise. It's not like a rumble like an exhaust sound, but more of a rattle? or maybe a dull bump).

When I start off from a dead stop, and shift into 1st, it clunks. It mostly does it only going from a dead stop to first, and not so much from any other gears.

It doesn't feel like a rotating clunk, in that there's no torque feel to it. It's a front to back clunk. That is why I don't think it's a U-joint issue.

Sorry for lack of a better description.

Before I changed my bushings, and tightened a few bolts in the rear, the clunks were similar. And when I finished with the 8 of 10 bushings replaced, the clunks all but went away. I replaced the last bushing last June.

Like I said earlier, I'm going to put the car up on jack stands this Friday or Saturday, and fix an OD leak issue I've put off for almost a year. I'm going to check all sorts of things on the body/driveline to see what needs to be fixed/replaced/tightened.

I'm just wondering what are some obvious places to look (outside of U-joints and bushings).

Thanks.

Uncle Shaughnessy,

Try both motor mounts and the transmission mount. Check for bushing materials separating from the metal mount parts. Severe sag or well compressed motor or transmission mount material can be a clue.

Also, inspect the center carrier bearing bushing for movement within the carrier itself. The bearing may be fine, yet the rubber bushing material may have shrunk and gotten inflexible.

You may also have sever wear in the splines where the rear drive shaft half slides into the front drive shaft half. Many do not inspect the spline for wear. They may replace the carrier bushing and the carrier bearing, yet some may not clean and then juice that puppy up with a slathering of some delicious NLGI 2 grease (like you use for the front and rear wheel bearings) into the receiving side. I mean, really use a generous amount of NLGI 2 grease.

Auto or manual transmission?

Hope that hep-kats.

Hope the fuzzy kitties help.

Hope the fuzzy kitties raid your refrigerator and finish off the buttermilk.

cheers,

dud.
--
The kitties HAD raided the fridge and finished off the cheese AND the buttermilk in their catnip fueled orgy of fermented dairy consumption, cat scratching post fever, and driving the car like Tunces, the cat who could drive a car, from Saturday Night Live.

I replaced the driveline gasket/boot whatever it's called during one of my many clutch replacements (the one that fits around the shaft, and sits in the bracket that is bolted between the transmission bracket and the rear axle). In one of the many times I replaced the clutch (3 clutches in less than 3 years, due to my own laziness/cheapness), I checked the splines on the driveline, and they were fine.

But, my OD has been leaking for a while, so it might've eaten away at the (less than 3 year old) transmission mount.

I have a manual.

Thanks for the input/ideas. I'm hoping by Monday I have it all figured out.