Hey Gang,
I have an '87 TII which I love driving except for one problem.

When I go from coasting to accelerating (or vice versa), there is a loud clunk sound and a slight lurch.

First I figured the u-joints were going out, but recently I read in the manual that this can be caused by a bad CV joint.

Any thoughts on which this could be? I was going to order the mazdatrix replacement drive shaft, but would hate to dump the dough only to find I still have a problem.

- k -

 

I'd be looking at the front differential mount first

 

btw mark your parts are packaged up and ready to go out tommorow morning.

 

hmmm.... Would you elaborate?


- k -

 

There are two rear differential mounts, and a single front one.

Its not uncommon for the front one to break after hard use or age, letting the front part of the differential assembly slap up and down when the vehicles volocity changes.

And thanks Santiago!

 

Why don't you get the car on a lift and start poking around?
Bad CV joints typically click when they go bad.
Unbolt the driveshaft and turn the u-joints by hand - this will confirm if it's the u-joints or not.


-Ted

 

Mark, Ted; Thanks. I'll put it up on the lift and let you know what I find (tomorrow is work-on-cars day, as I'm helping a budd change brake pads).

- k -

 

If the clunk sounds like its coming from behind your shifter (like mine did), its your front U-Joint. Only problem is that the caps are staked and you need a press and a lot of heat to get them out, and need a tig welder to install new ones. You could buy a new driveshaft, but they run $350 for aftermarket and $450 for OEM. Or you could do what I did and look on eBay. I picked up a driveshaft there for $40.

 

Thanks for the input. I'd been thinking it was UJoints, since I've felt this on other cars before. eBay is definitely the way to go. Last month I missed out on one for $38 including shipping!

- k -