When I put the car into gear, and I take off, I hear a "clunking" noise coming from the rear of the car. It will also clunk if im shifting driving normal, but it has to be a fast shift ( under a lot of stress) to hear the clunk.
I was thinking maby a broken transmission mount? well if anyone has had any noise similar to this and can help me to diagnose this, id really appreciate it , thanks

 

Could be either... PFC or pillowballs...

 

Power plant frame*

 

First search because this is a very talked about isue. And because I know you probably wont search here are a few things you can check: your trailing arms, diff bushings, ring and pinion back lash, driveshaft joints, strut mounts, ppf bolts and it even could be your trans. Ha also check the end play on your engine. And fyi there is no transmission "mount".
-J

 

The diff mounts usually will ooze fluid when they are broken (they are fluid filled) Get under the car and look. Also, jack the rear up and rock the wheels by grabbing at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions while looking for play in the suspension. Do it at 12 and 6 too. Check the ppf for cracks. Also check the motor mounts. The original aluminum driver's mount always breaks. You can check by placing a big prybar under it and lifting.

 

I looked under the car and put the car into gear and pressed the clutch pedal in and out, and this is what I do to hear the clunk, it sVERY noticeable if I do this. Whenevr the clunk is heard, the whole transmission is moving, and the drivshaft and exhaust and everything. Its hard to pin point where it is . and some body said there are no transmission mounts? I know its not a suspension clunk because the noise is heard everytime there is a rough shift for some reason, or when I take off from a stop light I can hear it so Im gonna research Power plant frame.... is this in the rear of the car too?

 

I took the car to my job(sears automotive), and they checked it out for free while I was there and said it looked like the universal joints for the drive shaft were worn out, does this sound right or can this even happen? he said the front U joint were bad what do you think about this diagnosis?

 

Or in my case try to rock the engine back and forth with your hand and see if it moves. Stand on either side of the front fenders and push forward and back. Under normal circumstances the engine shouldn't budge at all but my mounts are so bad that it moves alot lol

Another good test is to drive the car and shift gears and let the clutch out very quickly. You should hear a banging noise in the rear and/or clunking sound. Thats your PPF and diff mounts.

 

I have done this before and this is EXACTLY what it sounds like coming from the read of the car. Is the PPF bolted to the transmission?

 

look at page j-10 in the shop manual.

 

yes

 

Ernesto 13B,

You need to spend a lot of time reading the "tech manual" and "FAQ" stickies at the top of this forum.

You need to invest some time on your own looking into this vice just relying on what everyone tells you.

If you SEARCH "pillow *****" , "PPF (power plant frame)", and "differential mount" you will find tons of threads on problems.

And yes, I had similar issues...I spent lots of time reading and found my problem to be the pillow ***** and differential mount.

Good luck,

Charlie

 

re-read post #4. The answer is yes but i wouldn't rule out other possible causes.

 

wow alot of quick responses on this thread

 

Over the past year I have been trying to diagnose this problem and have already checked the following: checked the PPF visually and entirely, no cracks a all or any signs of damage, I have checked the front and rear wheels for end play and there is none at all everything is tight and firm, Differential mounts seem ok, no fluid leaking and no usual movement coming from that specific area.



Front strut mounts are broken ( due to the damn car hopping up and down like a bouncing ball beacause of bad struts which I cant afford at this time unfortunatley ) Rear strut mounts im not sure of the condition, but may be broken too due to the bad struts. Does anyone know the best way to check for broken engine mounts with the car on the ground? I know motor mounts arn't cheap, but if I could get urethane mounts, it would at least "reduce" the vibration for now , until I can find out whats going on

and again, I hate to ask stupid questions, but isn't a "Pillow Ball" AKA a strut mount?

 

Then why don't you stop doing it???? A simple search will tell you what a pillow ball is.

 

I think Ernesto knows the answers, he just like to talk to us. You go Ernesto !!



LAter

 

i would replace the diff mounts... the stock ones are old and blow.

 

your right i do know the answer lol well chances are its my strut mounts/pillow ***** causing the clunk, or engine mounts. well thats the end of this thread, thanks

 

http://www.maxcooper.com/rx7/how-to/...lls/index.html

 

Ok first of all, I feel embarrassed that I thought that pillow ***** and strut mounts where the same thing.. and also now I know they we have shocks... NOT struts.

Well anyway, I replaced the 6 pillow ***** in the rear suspension, and while I was there also replaced the toe link and trailing arm bushings with superpro urethane. Now for the first time in 2 years, no more rear end clunking and zero play in the rear wheels, thanks for all the help

BTW thanks Mahjik for that link, without that I would not have been able to do it

 

maybe it's your u-joints. you say they clunk when shifting in and out of gear right. do you have an auto transmission? (I know u joints can clunk when shifting in and out of gear at a stop) if it's your pillow ***** I think you would here a clunk when you stop and go. both are easy to inspect.

 

I have a manual transmission, but my problem was already solved by replacing the pillow *****, and toe link+ trailing arm bushings. The car rides like a new car, it feels very tight, and no clunk what so ever.