Have an 84 GSL-SE with 100k miles on it. I was driving on the highway in fifth gear and suddenly there was a noise and a vibration in the car....felt and sounded like I had a flat tire. Pulled over checked the tires, all good. Engine idles and revs fine. Had the car towed home and has basically sat since. I have tried to find the problem myself but I'm no mechanic so I'm trying to give you all the details I can. Makes the same noise in all gears and when coasting in neutral.

Anyone have any idea what is wrong with my baby?

 

Sounds more like a u joint. Pretty simple to replace. If it makes noise while stopped, I'd say transmission.

 

Either that, or he threw a weight off the driveshaft, but that usually vibrates at higher speeds.

 

If you can get it to a tranny shop, they should tell you whats wrong for free. I had a bad ujoint and had a driveshaft built at a drivetrain shop. I took it to a tranny shop first and he lifted it up and check the u-joints.

 

2nd that motion.

Driveshaft Removal.


1. Place stoppers on front tires.
2. Jack up the rear by the pumpkin & place jack stands.
3. Disengage the E-Brake. Set in Netural
4. Get under the car and turn the drive shaft "square" so you can access all the bolts.
5. Engage the parking brake firmly.
6. Use a open head 12mm then loosen all the bolts first. Then remove them all.
7. Push the shaft towards the front of the car. Then bring down slowly, and pull out slowly. Becarefull there may a lil tranny fluid that may follow after removing the yoke.
8. If you have to lower your car. MAKE SURE you put a catch or do what I do plugg the tranny with your latex gloves to prevent spilling. Other wise even if its at a slight angle it should'nt come out.

Now that you have the shaft out inspect the u joints. You'll find that one of them may be cracked or chipped. Bet you its the front one.

When you bring it to be rebuilt make sure that you get it balanced as well.


Good Luck

-Ryan

 

Thanks guys. Took the drive shaft out tonight and sure enough there is a problem with the front universal. Now to find a place to rebuild it.

 

Glad you figured it out. Let us know when it's back together and on the road.

 

Mazda and Mazdatrix state that the U-joints on our cars are not rebuildable, but Mazdatrix does sell a replacement unit that is custom made with rebuildable U-joints for future replacement - worth the $300 in my book, since I don't want to buy a new Mazda driveshaft every 10 years!

Glad you confirmed the problem as being that. My 84SE has 179k miles on the odometer and still going strong on all fronts. Driveshaft replaced at about 85k miles. HTH,