I have an 86 GXL. New centerforce clutch was installed 20k ago. I have had the car in storage for about 3 years. I drove it over the weekend and noticed some vibes and shimmying at low speeds. Also when going from 1st to reverse there was a metallic clanking sound.

I have searched all the threads and am coming to the conclusion it is the U Joint for the DriveShaft...What do you guys think?

Thanks!

 

I forgot to mention I also hear a squeaking sound when the vehicle is slowly moving...

Anyone?

 

check your wheel bearings, grab the rim while attached and shake it fairly hard, if you feel a pop, it will be the bearings.

 

I know it's not the wheel bearings, I just check them as stated above.

The thing that tips me off is the pop/metallic clank when going from forward to reverse...

Are they second gen driveshafts rebuildable? Or do I need to order a new one from Mazdatrix?

 

Well I just crawled under my RX7 and reefed on the driveshaft a few times and the halfshafts a few times. There was not a large amount of play, in fact there was not any play at all in the halfshafts or driveshaft.

Now I'm stumped...I thought that if the U joint was bad there would be some play in it.

The squeaking sound seems to be based on rotation, as it is time specific - I mean that the time interval between the squeaks is the same if the vehicle speed is the same...Uggh..

Would I hear the squeak with the clutch in if it was the throw out bearing that was bad?

Brett

 

I vote u-joint. Take the driveshaft out and inspect it in your hand. Mazdatrix driveshafts work good. Get the non oem. They as you know have the replaceable u-joints. Or take that one you have, if indeed bad, and go to a local shop and they will make you a driveshaft with replaceable joints out of your old one. Then again it could be another thing all together.

 

You were probably right the first time (driveshaft) that's a common failure. I suggest the Mazdatrix rebuildable ones.

Brad