Hi,

I have a 1979 242DL (2dr) 4SP w/OD with almost 390,000 miles. About 7 years ago or so (Maybe longer), when I first noticed this sound, it seemed to happen when braking at slow speeds. If I was just rolling to a stop and hit the brakes you would hear a clunk/pop sound. Sometimes when you tapped on the brakes one time after another you could get the clunk/pop sound to repeat itself. At that time the mechanic said it was probably caused by some free play in the drive train/axle??? But I don't notice it happening from braking any longer. What happens now is, as soon as you take off from a stop in first gear I hear a Clunk/Pop kind of sound. You hear it once, and it's gone. It seemed that I noticed it most at first when the car had been parked, (With the emergency brake on) back up, and as soon as the car moved forward in 1st, you hear a clunk/pop sound. Now it seems to be happening more frequently when taking off in first gear from a stop.

It seems to happen more in warmer weather like spring and summer, not so much in winter that I can recall.

Would this be caused by free play in the drive train/axle? Could it be bushings?

Thank you.