Hey guys. Havnt been online in quite some time, my car has been sitting in the garage for about 4 months (finally got a work truck)..

Anyway, i've been driving my GXL for about 2 weeks everyday now, just to put a few miles on it. I've noticed a very odd noise coming from right behind the shifter. pretty much right where the tailshaft of the transmission is. I'll do my best to TYPE what the noise is.

From a standstill engageing into gear it's almost like a squeek, squeeek noise until the clutch is fully engaged. than during acceleration in ANY year I'm hearing a tick.tick.tick (gets more rapid as rpms increase) tick.tick.tick.tickt.tick noise coming from just under my wrist/forarm area.

I'm thinking it's my driveshaft U-joints but what's the best way to check?

thanks guys

 

Also, if it IS the U-joints than how long do i have before they fail. also, what's a worst case senario when a driveshaft u-joint fails...

P.S, my current driveshaft has 267,000 miles. Transmission is a rebuilt unit from an 83 GSL

 

you're probably right about the U-joints.

Go as easy as you can until you can fix them.

As the failure progresses the wear in the needle bearings will sometimes let the drive shaft wobble.
When you start to feel vibrations, it's getting close to failure.

Maybe start carrying a tow rope.

 

Thanks for the help. It's much appreciated.

Surprisingly i've looked all around the Tampa bay area, and a non-turbo drive shaft is acctually hard to find. I'm sure Mazsport in Largo may have some.

 

Would it help if i could get under the car and maybe lube the shaft? I'd assume it's the needle bearings making such noise correct?

Question however... Does the driveshaft still turn if the clutch is in but the car is still rolling down the road? cause the squeek and chatter goes away just rolling without throttle applied. I can sometimes hear it under deceleration in each gear.

At first i thought all of this was the clutch. Possible a pilot or release bearing, but the noise is right from under my forearm/wrist area.

 

Any other input would be greatly appreciated.