I have an '87 GTA I recently picked up and hearing the infamous "clunk" I replaced both u-joints. Well the car is still making the "clunk" both while shifting from gears(auto,5.7, 9-bolt) and when the car shifts into 2nd gear??? Could the new joints have been defective???? Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

could be the tranny mount is worn or broken.

 

could be tranny mount, or excessive play in the rear end itself, my 10 bolt would clunk in my s10 before it went out on me. But it was clunking for 40,000 miles before it finally went.

 

Not to highjack, but i still havent figured out the search function on the new forum....

How did you get the rear U-joint out?? I ripped the nylon fill seals out and cant figure out how to remove the u joint to install the new one?

 

Got them out with a blow torch. I have already replaced the trans mount with a Polyurethane one. Like I said it's weird and only on the 2-3 shift. Thanks for the replies I really appreciate the help.

 

I have a similar problem with my car. 87 iroc. When I put it into drive it kind of clunks but when i throw it in reverse it really clunks bad. Thought it might be the u-joints but they look fine and have no play. I watched the drivetrain and the drive shaft gets almost a full 3/4 turn when it gets put into gear (more turn for reverse than drive). I didn't see the tranny move but I might of missed it.

For the u-joints there is usually a clip on the outsides, if you don't remove the clip you'll have a REAL hard time taking them out. Like the other guy said heat is always a good way or an actual torch to cut them out.

 

Check the motor mounts if tranny mount is good - I had a clunk that turned out to be a bad motor mount.

 

A clunk during the 2-3 shift is bad. If as you posted it is only the 2-3 shift then the shift timing is off. This is causing the trans to bind for a moment which unloads the drive shaft and rear gears. When the bind ends (as the 2/4 band is pushed off) the unloaded parts then reload with a clunk.

RBob.