[cooper30]

My 90 shakes and shudders pretty bad. It seems like it's originating in the tranny.(A-51. I know for certain it's not steering or driveline related. In addition to shuddering and shaking, there's quite a bit of slop in the tranny/transfer case, it clunks when I let off the gas and then push it again, and also, there is an occasional scaping/grating sound. It does this with the OD off or on, in all gears.

I guess I know what my problem is (tranny...duh!) but I was wondering if anyone had any input as to what the problem may be or any similar symptoms in the past. Something as simple as an output bearing maybe?

I have a 727 sitting in my garage that I just took out of my 84 so I think I'll put that in. I have a question. Will the 241 mate up to the 727 or do I need to use the 208?

Thanks,
Ted

 

[BrianT]

Seems like it might be a u joint is shot or the tranny mounts are gone . If you swap in the 727 u cna use the 241 but u need to use the old drive shaft cuz the old one will be about 4" too short .

 

[cooper30]

Thanks Brian.

It's got brand new u-joints, so they're ok. I really need to inspect the mounts a lot closer than I have. I did the old quick-slide-under-and-glance-at-them-quickly inspection. I'm going to get under there tomorrow and get a good look and see how they are. It sure would be nice if that's all the problem was.

As far as the driveshaft, I've got the one from my 84, so all is well in that department. I may just put the 727 in anyway and get the 518 rebuilt and the Transgo kit in. Guess it depends how much motivation I have.

Ted

 

[IntenseImages]

are you sure it is the tranny and not chain stretch and noise in the tcase?


eric

 

[cooper30]

are you sure it is the tranny and not chain stretch and noise in the tcase?

eric

No, I'm not. Is there a way to isolate it?

Ted

 

[IntenseImages]

are you sure it is the tranny and not chain stretch and noise in the tcase?

eric

No, I'm not. Is there a way to isolate it?

Ted

not totally sure how you would isolate it, but i was thinking that the clunking you described when you give it gas and let off again sounded more like a loose tcase chain, especially in combination with the play you said was in the tcase

i am sure someone will pop in and give us an idea of how to isolate it.

eric

 

[ramchargerrunner360]

im not sure how to isolate it with out dropping the t case and pulling it apart

 

[geronimo]

I'm hope I'm not asking a stupid question but does it happen when you first touch the brakes to slow down from speed or is it on acceleration?

 

[cooper30]

I'm hope I'm not asking a stupid question but does it happen when you first touch the brakes to slow down from speed or is it on acceleration?

Both. It almost sounds like a really bad u-joint, but it did it both before and after I replaced both u-joints. They only have about 85 miles on them, too.

I wonder if I was to swap the 208 in to test it. That's a hell of a lot less involved than a tranny swap.

Thanks for the help.

Ted

 

[BrianT]

But damn the t-case chain in a208 takes for ever to wear out though ? I know the full itme cases do not live as long as the part time cases do .

Also Ted check your torque converter bolts nad make sure they are tight or u might have a cracked flex plate too

 

[IntenseImages]

well the grinding/scraping sounds like a tcase chain. the clunk you describe could also be the 9.25 rear end, they are really famous for this.

and yeah i believe swapping in the 208, if you have the right driveshaft for it, would be a lot less involved then dropping the tranny. would try this first as a diagnostic test

eric

 

[cooper30]

Ok, I've got a game plan for tomorrow.

Check out mounts

Pull cover and check out flex plate bolts and general condition of flex plate.

Take 241 out and put 208 in (driveshafts, too.)

Hey Brian, it's interesting you mention the flex plate and bolts, cause I was wondering if the torque converter may have something to do with it, but I totally forgot about the flex plate.
______________________________

The previous owner of this truck beat on it pretty hard. He abused it hard enough that the front axle u-joints broke and he destroyed the yokes, too. That was the major reason for my axle swap. It needed new axle shafts on both sides. It stands to reason that something else got wrecked, too. Boy, it's nice to have a parts truck.

Thanks again.

Ted

 

[cooper30]

Oh yea, I don't think the clunk is from the rear end. Both of my previous RCs had it and this just feels different. It doesn't happen when I put it in gear, just when I start to coast and then accelerate again. It feels like it's right below me.

When I changed the u-joints, there didn't seem to be much slop in the rear end compared to what I was used to.

 

[cooper30]

Well, it rained all day today so I didn't swap out xfer cases or even get underneath. I did drive it a bit trying to narrow the symptoms down a little.

When I put it in D (OD off) it's ok. 1st gear accelerates fine. When it goes into 2nd, it starts to shudder. Same with 3rd. I've engaged the OD on the turnpike at 70 mph and it goes fine. It'll downshift when needed and keeps the rpms right around 2k. Hopefully I can get underneath tomorrow (if I'm not too busy pulling parts off the 84 )

Hopefully I can find something simple and not have to drop the tranny. After thinking about it, though, there was an awful lot of play at the yoke going into the transfer case (with d-shaft disconnected). Maybe a loose chain is the source of the clunk.