What's that clunk?

[Qmodo]

Just when I thought I was free of the wrench. I have developed this new clunk. As I let up on the clutch in 1st and maybe 2nd I get a clunk which I feel through the floor of the car. It's a little subtle and if I am accelerating hard I cann't feel it. I was thinking that perhaps the transmission or engine mounts might need looking at. Any suggestions?

Martin

[campbellcj]

Sounds like engine mounts to me. When they are bad, it feels like the whole engine & trans is "moving" as you accelerate in 1st and 2nd gear...cuz it is!

[URY914]

Try the front motor mounts attached to the cross bar. They can break and you can't tell by looking at them. There are a couple ways to check them to see if thier broken. If you can get a floor jack under the engine, try to lift the front of the engine up slowly and carefully. If it pulls up from the crossbar with out removing the nuts from the mounts-thier broken. The crossbar has to come off to change the mounts. Not a big job, but all of it on your back.

[philinjax]

Martin,
If the gear shift lever moves when accelerating, then the motor mounts are broken.
If the gear shift doesn't move around while accelerating from 1st,
you may have a loose rear shock top mount, maybe a cv joint going bad or maybe one of your engine mount bolts is slightly loose. I would check all of the front and rear suspension component too.
Phil

[dmccarlson]

Heres something you might want to check. Where the shift linkage rod exits the body. Inside the dust boot the rod passes through a nylon bushing which supports the rod as it passes through the body. Sometimes the bushing will slip out of place and the rod clanks against the body when you shift gears. Its easy to check just remove the dust boot attached to the body and look to see if the bushing is in the right place. Anyways its something to check!

[Qmodo]

Thanks for the feedback. I guess I will be busy for a couple of weekends.
Martin