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Chick
08-05-2007, 10:02 PM
We finally got a round to getting under the car this a.m.. Jacked it up on the DS rear enough to be able to get a hold of the driveshaft. Seems to be a bit of play in the U-joint to the tune of about an eight of an inch (when trying to turn said driveshaft). I'm thinking that's not normal. Any pearls of wisdom and/or experience with this out there?
torval
08-05-2007, 11:22 PM
Can you get the whole rear up and put it in drive to isolate? I'm guessing you're trying to hunt a noise...that would serve to confirm. I wouldn't crawl under with wheels up and car in gear though...I'd also aim it away from the house...
Chick
08-05-2007, 11:44 PM
...I'd also aim it away from the house...

Lol, that got a chuckle out of me. :p Remeber my "Crappy day (http://www.southeastcamaroz.com/showthread.php?t=501)" thread?

I finally got to I-95 on-ramp and the car starts bucking like a bronco, with very loud clunks from the rearend.

Had also noticed when approaching a stoplight that changes to green (just when you are slowed to a crawl) and you resume throttle that it sometimes "clunks" too. Don't think it's transmission related, definately "herky jerky" that one time on the on ramp. I had read that there should be no "play" in the driveshaft to rear connection.
Camaro6662
08-06-2007, 12:06 AM
Time to replaced the u joint
torval
08-06-2007, 12:28 AM
Oh yes...I remember crappy day thread...LOL

Seems to me that if it were a U joint...it would be all the time tho, and not just randomly...I could be wrong tho...
D21458P
08-06-2007, 03:42 AM
When you give it gas and it clunks def time to change the joint. Never had one get jerky. Your right in that you shouldn't have play.
BlueBeast
08-06-2007, 03:58 PM
Had a U-joint freeze up on my once. When it happened I got a jerky condition as the driveshaft turned and would work the whole rear against the springs because the U-joint wouldn't cycle. Not your typical U-joint problem but I did have one...the bearings were rusted solid.
Chick
08-06-2007, 07:15 PM
Guess I'm gonna find out which is worse...dropping the driveshaft w/o a lift or writing a check to a shop. :p
BlueBeast
08-06-2007, 09:13 PM
Not sure what facilities you have, but I've dropped the driveshaft on my '02 in my garage. I jack the car up (all around) and put it on ramps (all four corners). That gets it up on its wheels and about 6 inches more clearance under the car.
Camaro6662
08-07-2007, 02:35 AM
Guess I'm gonna find out which is worse...dropping the driveshaft w/o a lift or writing a check to a shop. :p
You could use Jim's "Torval" car trailer as a car ramp :rolleyes:
Chick
08-07-2007, 12:30 PM
Not sure what facilities you have, but I've dropped the driveshaft on my '02 in my garage. I jack the car up (all around) and put it on ramps (all four corners). That gets it up on its wheels and about 6 inches more clearance under the car.

Two ramps, four jackstands, heavy duty floor jack (3.5 ton) and a two car garage. Workbench (but no vise as suggested by Haynes) to work on it. I guess it's kind of like the time I replaced the window motor...after a beer or two I said "well ____ it, it's already broke". Drilled the access holes, drilled the rivets out and had it swapped in 30 minutes. Sometimes you just have to attack it. The part that scares me is the whole "marking of the spline" thing. Really don't want to screw up my differential. :eek: