85 FB, 2.8, T5

ok, this is my 1st rear wheel drive and 1st manual so I need you guys to help educate me here with my two questions:

1. How much driveline slack is normal or should the gears be tight?? The U-joints are excellent but you can turn the driveshaft a 1/4" - 1/2" or so when under the car. It is really annoying when driving in low gears with the jumping when letting off or hitting the gas. It does not make for a pleasing smooth ride.

2. My clutch is only a few weeks old but I seem to get jerking when excelerating especially in 2nd and 3rd. When cold it is very evident even on very casual accelerations. I noticed it today when warm too if i was coasting slow and then hit the gas (but certainly not near flooring it). Again, only the 2.8 though so not a lot of torque. Could this actually be the clutch slipping?? Is there a wear in period for a new clutch?? It is a Fenco clutch which is a half decent brand is it not??

any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

I am really puzzled here.

thanks.

 

1. Is the slack when you have the transmission in gear or in nutral?

2. you should take it a little easy on it for the first few hundred miles, but it shouldent slip. could it be the engine surging mabee?

 

I guess it would have been in neutral but that probably doesn't matter because I just turned it until it caught the gears (it was evident when the gears would start moving). I remember at the tranny end but I definitely remember play at the diff end (wheels were not moving).

I just did a major tune up. Why do you have to take it easy on a new clutch??

 

It needs to develop a wear pattern on the flywheel and pressure plate.

 

There is always generally a little play in the gears. Keeps the teeth from wearing on eachother. It can surge if the rpms are too low to. Drive ing too slow for the gear. Other than that could be worn bearings I guess.

 

ok, here is something I noticed when driving today. WHen cold, for the first 5 minutes or so of driving the the rpm's are really slow to drop when changing gears (eg. if you change at 3000 it might only drop to 2500 as opposed to about 1500 when the engine is warm) by the time you get into the next gear. You could hear the engine was definitely slow to drop. Is this normal behaviour when cold???