I was looking under my car and started wondering what this arm in this pic is for? I can see the mount on the transmission side where it's connected is quite worn... could this be the cause of jumpy acceleration? Feels like the hole diff is alive and moving around under there.

 

here's a closer peek of the worn mount...

 

Called a torque arm, connects trans to diff. If your trans mount breaks this thing will make your tailshaft and driveshaft smack up into your tunnel.

 

So this mount being worn wouldn't have anything to do with the jumping motion happening when I accelerate??

 

yes it would , like 84z28350 had said if it breaks , than you can really damage your car. and you would think the rear end is about to fall out.

replace the mount and while your at it replane the trans tailshaft mount also. you will be happy with the car after the new ones are in.

in this pic the number 1 is torque strut mount they run for a little under $10. at autozone.

number 2 is transmission mount, also under $10.

and you can go will poly mounts I think they run $25 or $30 each

 

Actually I just replaced both transmount and enginemounts (older pic). Thought they were the problem for sure becauce they were really worn. But Nothing really changed.... it's still doing the same thing. Can this torque strut mount by itself be causing this?

 

Most commonly its the tailshaft mount that causes the jumping and banging but its possible the worn torque mount could cause it.

If i were you i would spend a few extra dollars and get a set of nice poly mounts.

 

What and where is the tailshaft mount??

 

the tailshaft mount is the #2 in the pic. he's refering to the transmission tail shaft. the stock torque arm is pretty weak. if you had the money now wouldn't be a bad time for a whole new tq arm....there are many out there for a reasonable price

 

the picture above ( 1 ) the torque arm is what transferes torque from the rear end and instead of sending the stress to the cars unibody it sends it through the torque arm and to the transmission tailshaft. that also putts some of the load on the transmission crossmember.


if you unbolt the torque arm from the trans tailshaft you can move the arm up and down with your hand and while you do this watch how the rearend moves with it./
before you try this make sure the car is supported with jackstands at the rear frame rails and not the rearend !

 

So even if the torque arm is still in it's place only a bad mount could allow movement enough of the whole rear axel and ultimately a shaky acceleration?

 

yes, because even 1/2 inch movement you would feel as if it was moved alot more. as you accelerate the torque arm pulls up ,( for arguements sake a 1/2 inch. but as soon as you let off the pedal the torque arm is then forced down in the mount, and at most times with much force. this is where you would feel and hear that something is loose.

the picture you show was of a badly worn mount, and before I would fork over a bank roll to a mechanic . you could replace it because you know it needs it anyway, and if buy some other reason you still have the problem then please let me know .

 

Yes I've already replaced the other three mounts at home with the help of my brother so don't think I'll take it to the mechanic now either I sure hope this is it. Thanx man and I'll let you know how it goes

 

also I have noticed in the pictures you posted, I see what looks to be an oil leek, possibly from the oil pan or the rear main seal in the engine, but for what it's worth to you, if you haven't gotten around to that yet, you will save more money if you fix that to,
a quart of oil costs around $1.50. and lets say if you put a quart in every week, in a year that oil leek would have cost you $78.
so it's worth it to fix .

 

I've noticed the oil myself but it doesn't really seem to leak anymore. Certainly not very much if so. It's been there in about the same place for 2 years now. Like it HAS leaked sometime before but not now. Never have seen any oilstains on the ground either. Looks to have come from the top of the transmission. Checked the fluid level and seemed full, that is if I checked in the right place. Here's a pic of the top of the transmission.

 

Here's a pic of the only two openings for fluid I'm aware of. It's number 2 where you fill right? Or is there one somewhere higher up on the topside? And I'm assuming 1 is just for draining? Anyway it was filld to 2 so much that it leaked out a bit when I checked it.

 

Just wanna add that it's not IMPOSSIBLE the leak is still from the engines rear seal. That is if the oil can travel on the upper side of the trans...? Because there seems to have been slight leakage from the seal also. But as I said not to leave any oilstains on the ground. One possibility could be that the oil seems to have been constantly moving backwards, as if it only leaked while driving. Perhaps whan I drive it the shakeing causes the seals to give just enough to let some oil out...? Just a theory
By the way I just ordered the new mount for the arm. It will maybe be arriving next week sometime.
Here's a pic of the rear of the engine.

 

you may have very small leeks at both the rear main oil seal and the top of the trans. but just for the heck of it try looking at the oil pressure switch behind the intake manifold, mine leeked right around where the wires plug in , the switch was still working. and it would squirt a little oil towards the transmission and at idle it would trickle down the back of the block.

I was ready to pull the engine to replace all gaskets and seals in the engine. and while disconnecting the oil pressure switch I noticed the wire connector was soaked with oil. but since I had already bought a gasket set , I just went ahead and pulled the engine anyway.

you could either do a little at a time or save the cash and do it all at once, but if you'r like me . if you save the cash you would find something else to spend it on.