Please help me identify this problem on my 85!
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 594
Likes: 0
From: HEMET California
Please help me identify this problem on my 85!
When I pulled out of my driveway today to head to work I noticed that as I started to accelerate it felt like I had a flat in the rear. Well I pulled over and my tires are fine , no bubbles or anything. So I started driving and the thumping noise with bad vibration from the rear seem to get worse so I let off of the gas pedal and the sounds and vibration went away. Now at this point I was already on the highway and at 19 hundred rpm's at 70 mph the car was fine but as soon as I would step on the gas the symptoms were back but it did not seem to hurt performance at all. One more thing is that when I turn left it was smooth but turning right it would shake and make the thumping noise so I am needing any advice I can get. I will be very grateful for any opinions.
Jason
Jason
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 265
Likes: 1
From: Irwindale Ca
Sounds like one side of your rear universal joints. How many miles do you have on your vehicle?. They usually go out after 100,000 miles. They are actually not very hard to replace. I usually take off the axles and have a machine shop press new U joints in. 10 bucks for each new joint. Spend a little more and get the good ones. All you really need is long extenshions to remove the U joint clamps.You can get to the clamps from the side wheel well. A good test to see if they are bad is to jack up the rear tire still on the vehicle and turn the wheel. It will creek and crack if the joints are bad. Hope this helps. 
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 18,727
Likes: 711
From: Bergen County, NJ
With MadMike, it sounds like the U-joint.I had the same symptoms, my mechanic did the job.
He also got the 'good' u-joints.
He said he won't install the 6 for a dollar u-joints they sell anywhere.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 594
Likes: 0
From: HEMET California
Thank you both for the fast replies! MADMIKE I just checked the lug nuts and they were fine so I guess its the U joints. How much do you think it will cost to fix them ? Wayne88 how much did you pay?
