I have a 1989 744 GL automatic with 150,000 miles. Just the other day I noticed a subtle "clunking" noise coming from what seems to be under the emergengy brake area. I can "feel" the noise when I hold the parking brake lever. It sounds like something thumping now and then. I notice it more after the car has been driven a few miles and while I'm accelerating. The noise is generally difficult to hear but I usually notice it while accelerating in parking lots and accelerating on the highway.

I checked under the car.....when I wiggle/move the driveshaft I noticed the familiar sound coming from the center drive shaft support. The drive shaft moves about 1/4 inch within the metal support. The bearing looks tight but the rubber moves freely within the back of the metal clamp. It looks like it's connected on the front of the support clamp but loose on the back end (1/16 of an inch gap between the rubber support and the metal clamp).

Do you think I found my noise?? Any other suggestions on what the noise might be. What is the simplest way to change the center drive shaft support? If I disconnect the drive shaft at the differential, will the rear drive shaft easily separate from the drive shaft center support? Reading Brickboard FAQ helps but I don't understand how/where the drive shaft separates? Any other sugestions or comments? Looks like I can get a Drive Shaft support (P/N 1209820) for about $35 from "thepartsbin.com".

Thanks for reading my long message!