Odd vibrations, and noise

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Odd vibrations, and noise

December 07, 2009, 10:36:55 AM

Well i've noticed a few odd things while driving my dads bird. Its got all new brakes, and it did this before the brake job so its not the brakes. While rolling and you shift from 1st to 2nd back and forth it makes a clunk clunk noise as it goes in and out of the gears... I dont under stand what it could be.
Also when you get on the throttle it has a slight bang to it from the rear of the car, and if you get it above like 30-50 it has a shudder thats noticeable, but if you let off the gas it amplify's significantly. Should I be looking at the rear end, the driveshaft, or the trans?? The car sat for like 2-3 years without really being drove so I dont know were to start. Its got 4 new tires that were JUST put on and balanced so I'm pretty sure its not them but im not sure they are SMALL and throw the speedo off not sure if thats contributing.
Id like to find a way to make this a little less noticeable for now, and in spring im gonna rebuild the whole back end with all the parts I stocked up for my lincoln, and possible go to 5 lug we will see.

Thanks guys!

Odd vibrations, and noise

Reply #1 – December 07, 2009, 11:26:47 AM

The slight bang and clunk clunk noise sounds alot like a wore ring and pinion or someone with poor shifting abilities. :D Possibly some play in the trans? You'll have to check where the play is coming from. You don't say what yr Bird but the 87/88 Turbo Coupe's are bad for the rear caliper slider pin sticking. So some of your vibration/shudder could be from warped rotors (just a thought). This is just my opinion someone with more knowledge will speak up.

Odd vibrations, and noise

Reply #2 – December 07, 2009, 11:52:27 AM

the 1-2 and 2-1 shift clunk happens while the clutch is depressed, and rolling, never noticed it just shifting. But I had a feeling it would be the rear. Its a 88 bird, and its got brand new rotors all the way around, and brand new caliper pins out back haha. Brakes were done 5 days ago. Guess ill have to jack up the rear and see what the rear feels like, and check the fluid level. My dad is good at just driving it and not checking everything out... Thankfully for him I enjoy burning what little money I have on cars rather then myself lol.

Odd vibrations, and noise

Reply #3 – December 07, 2009, 12:13:32 PM

You didn't say how many miles are on the car, my 83 Bird has had a clunk in the rear when I get on the gas since 160k miles(When I bought it). It's not TOO bad, just noticeable. The diff would need to be rebuilt/shimed to eliminate it. The U-joints could be the cause, since your seems to happen more often than mine, but it's rather simple to detach the driveshaft from the rearend to check all that.
As far as the shudder, mine only shudders at around 75mph and above, and I suspected a bent axle, but I pulled the brakes off, and I think it's actually bad axle bearing on the pass. side? either that or the bent axle caused a bad bearing:D I have not pulled the axle out to confirm.

As far as shudder goes, my transmission starts to complain around 4500 RPM, but it's a C5 Automatic.

Odd vibrations, and noise

Reply #4 – December 07, 2009, 12:19:03 PM

everythings starting to point more towards the rear end/ drive shaft
I couldnt tell you what the miles are, motor is from a white parts car we had, trans is form my old black car, well the rear is the stock one. Im thinking like 137k on the body.

Odd vibrations, and noise

Reply #5 – December 07, 2009, 06:40:43 PM

u joint

Odd vibrations, and noise

Reply #6 – December 08, 2009, 07:21:08 AM

thats what im thinking. No time to check today, but i will tomorrow

Odd vibrations, and noise

Reply #7 – December 08, 2009, 08:59:45 AM

yeh i second u joint. its definatly in drivetrain. are you feeling this in the shifter? the yoke might be getting pushed in and out harshly so watch out. a ujoint would cause the vibration and would cause acceloration problems as it goes with the shimmy. could it possibly be worn bushings for holding the rearend square and in place? all bearings have always turned into the sound of the flintstones car.

Odd vibrations, and noise

Reply #8 – December 08, 2009, 09:51:16 AM

i guess I might check it before I go on my road trip to get my trans. If it is that hope its not to expensive Im down to a 170 for the rest of the money! College BLOWS.

Odd vibrations, and noise

Reply #9 – December 08, 2009, 11:43:57 AM

u-joints are cheap and easy to install. probably about $10 each and it might take an hour at the most to do the whole job.

Odd vibrations, and noise

Reply #10 – December 08, 2009, 12:28:28 PM

from what I can tell its not the u joint. I launched it today, and it made some funky noises in the rear and it went from posi to one wheel peel. I'm leaning again towards rear end issues. Hope it lasts me this trip! Then I can figure it out for sure.

Odd vibrations, and noise

Reply #11 – December 08, 2009, 01:04:12 PM

Another thing worth checking is the torque boxes, I had ripped a weld on my old car and it would "clunk/pop" on accel or decel depending on how hard I was on it. Fix was welding and stiffening the boxes.

Odd vibrations, and noise

Reply #12 – December 08, 2009, 01:15:19 PM

Quote from: 88turbo;301698

u-joints are cheap and easy to install. probably about $10 each and it might take an hour at the most to do the whole job.

har har, i've done this job. unless you have a u joint presser, it wont be an hour. if you go socket with a vice. plan the whole day and grab beer for when it gets late and your still busting knuckles and swearing.

Odd vibrations, and noise

Reply #13 – December 08, 2009, 01:45:06 PM

tbirds dont use those fancy little clips??
and the pop/clunk rarely happens thats not what worries me. the constant vibration, and increased vibration when the clutch is depressed is what im worried about.

Odd vibrations, and noise

Reply #14 – December 09, 2009, 04:47:27 AM

I remember doing u-joints with my dad on his old van. I remember having some lock ring pliers and a c-clamp, and I only remember it taking about 15 minutes.