My car is really jumpy when I launch it from stop or an otherwise slow speed. It feels like the drivetrain or rear is about to shake apart. There is play somewhere. I have already changed engine-, transmission- and torquearmmounts and that didn't help at all. And my mechanic tells me it can't be the u-joint spicers because he checked them and they aren't worn enough to cause this play.

So what could cause this play? Could it be bad controlarms or bushings?
Please help!!

It's not wheel-hop is it?

I'm not sure.... What does that mean exactly? the wheels don't feel like they're going up and down but rather back and forth.

is it when your tires are spinning like doing a burnout or something and it shakes the whole car like a ****? then its wheel hop ive done that ouch scared the hell out of me

No that's not it. So it's not wheel-hop then. I actually have LESS shakes when I do a burnout launch. There is play somewhere...but where???

clutch problem?

try jacking the car up, and grabbing and reefin' on parts. See if you can get anything to wiggle or move. If you can do it by hand, something's wrong.

no I've tried that. Nothing wiggles. Several mechanics have tried that too. Particularly on the transmission and shaft area. One mechanic said this is a common problem with powerful sportcars, especially manuals. That when they get older there becomes play in parts. But he couldn't tell for sure what part is specific for my car. He knew examples of other cars though. So does anyone know what is common for my car? I'm suspecting the problem lies in the rear axel area somewhere. Maybe bushings or some arms. Has anyone ever heard of something like this or had this kind of problem??

If it is the clutch then what "symptoms" are common for that?

jumpy on launch?
chattery while taking off from a stop, things like that. Try revving it up and dumping it into top gear while going too slow... If your engine slows right down and bogs quickly, thats a good thing, if it keeps revving fast and takes a while to slow down, or chatters or something - clutch problem.

[QUOTEOne mechanic said this is a common problem with powerful sportcars, especially manuals. That when they get older there becomes play in parts. QUOTE]

ok i gotta call because the mechanic said with powerful sports cars ummm... not to mean bro you have a 305 T-5 car come on! yours isnt powerful it runs like high 14's low 15's. that guy just want to find and fix the job or didnt want to deal with it. so he just told you some **** like that and got you to leave! i work in a shop i know!like i said im not trying to put your car down i have a GTA i love them! Later Daniel

Buy a set of street/strip LCAs and install them. This is easy to do by yourself.

perhaps change powerful to "worn out and beaten over the years?"

But still tpi is torque and we all know without sfc's everything is nice and twisty :O

What are LCAs?

lower control arms.
what connects the rear end to the chassis, to limit forward and back movement.
I assumed you would have checked thes bushing first. So i'd check 'em now.

Yes I've been meaning to check those. I'll do it soon. What does it mean by street/strip? Are they better somehow?