Shifting clunk and torque strut mounts

Odin8 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-29-06, 01:47 PM

Well, I just finished replacing the torque strut mounts and they seem to have fixed my engine movement a good amount, the rubber in the old ones was pretty cracked and worn. On the other hand...I'm still getting that annoying clunk when I shift the car into gear, which is pissing me off. A lot. My mechanic told me that it could be my struts mounts (suspension strut mounts), because when you shift into gear they have a good deal of movement. This make sense to anyone else? I have to fix this clunk, it bugs the shit out of me and it makes my car sound like a bone. =\

Krashed989 · #2 (**permalink**) 03-29-06, 05:02 PM

Do you have a high idle?

Odin8 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-29-06, 05:13 PM

Nope, idle is exactly where it should be. I looked at it a bit more today, with my buddy in the driver seat shifting it and giving it a little gas while holding on the brakes, and the clunk seems to come from behind the engine, down low. That isn't positive, but I think it's from around there. I was reading someplace else that it could be a motor mount, and that one of the front ones going isn't uncommon. Gotta figure this out...

Krashed989 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-29-06, 06:12 PM

I think your mechanic is right on it possibly being the suspension strut mounts.
Have you checked the CV halfshafts yet?

Odin8 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-29-06, 06:22 PM

I'm going to bring it back to him sometime real soon to get him to look over the suspension strut mounts and possibly replace them. Think the CV halfshafts would make that noise? Guess that's what I gotta look at next.

Krashed989 · #6 (**permalink**) 03-29-06, 06:38 PM

To check the CV halfshafts just drive out to an open space and crank the wheel all the way in one direction and do circles. If it clunks, you know the halfshaft on the other side is bad (ie. wheel cranked to the right checks the halfshaft on the left and wheel cranked to the left checks the halfshaft on the right.).

Odin8 · #7 (**permalink**) 03-29-06, 11:39 PM

Went out in to a parking lot tonight and did circles...no clunks. So probably not the CV halfshafts. Any other ideas anybody?

blunted · #8 (**permalink**) 03-30-06, 01:39 PM

My 94 Eldo does the same thing.. and I have a brand new suspension (mounts and everything). Like you, the torque struts helped it alot but that sound/clunk when shifting into drive is still there. I personally feel it has to be my transmission mount or lower engine mount. Check those two out, as changing my strut mounts did nothing for it.

Odin8 · #9 (**permalink**) 03-30-06, 03:10 PM

I was leaning towards engine mounts myself. I may do a little more poking around with it jacked up and someone else helping me. But more then likely I'm going to be bringing it in to my mechanic and have him look at/replace the engine/tranny mounts. We'll see if that does it. Anymore ideas? Thanks for the help so far guys.

Dadillac · #10 (**permalink**) 03-30-06, 04:44 PM

As stated, it definitely sounds like one of the tranny mounts. On my '02, the one in the rear is really hard to eyeball, but try and get a look at it.

Don

Odin8 · #11 (**permalink**) 04-28-06, 12:13 AM

Ok, digging this back out. Went to the shop today to get some little stuff done, suspension lubed up, etc. Also had the tranny drained/filters changed, and my fluid looked pretty good. I told the guy to look at my engine mounts, and see what kind of shape they were in, and try to pinpoint the clunk I get when I shift into gear. He said my engine mounts were in decent shape, and he seems to think that the clunk is just gear lash. I hate to accept that, I figured that anyone who bought a cadillac new would shit if they heard their tranny clunking like that with it under 100k miles. He also went on to say that GM FWD trannies are a bit sloppy anyways, and that this kind of gear slop isn't uncommon. Other then this thunk when I shift into gear, the tranny drives perfect and the car isn't throwing a single code. Any thoughts?

blunted · #12 (**permalink**) 04-28-06, 11:42 AM

Did he look at the tranny mounts??

Odin8 · #13 (**permalink**) 04-28-06, 11:58 AM

Probably not, I think he said he checked out one motor mount with the car on the lift and and not the tranny mounts.

blunted · #14 (**permalink**) 04-28-06, 12:10 PM

I'd go back and have the tranny mounts checked.. i'd bet one of those are in need of replacement.

Dadillac · #15 (**permalink**) 04-28-06, 04:46 PM

If it is gear lash, try this. While driving the car, quickly let off the gas, and then get back on it. If you feel the play, it is lash. If you don't feel it, look elsewhere. When driving, the gears are preloaded. By letting off the gas, you unload the gears, and then getting back on the gas, will preload the gears again. This is the best way to check a lash issue. Another thing to try, is while parked on a slight decline (so the cars weight is pushing forward, and resting on the parking pawl) shift into drive. You should have no lash problems here, as the gears are already preloaded. Try it and see post what happens.

Don