I've just found when I hold the end of the drive shaft (on the transmission side) with one hand and move it vertically, a relatively large play is felt between the transmission and the drive shaft (The universal joints don't have much play).
Something is wrong here?

Also, after putting the shift in neutral and releasing the emergency brake, I rotated the rear tire several times.
During this, a clicking sound can be heard periodically from around that area.
Is this normal?

A bearing or something in the transmission can be broken?

Thank you.

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tran...gle-700r4.html
This seems to be the case with me.

Wiggling there is common to all of you?
How can I replace the tail housing bushing?
Can I do it without removing the transmission from the car?

 

The clicking is most likely the universal joint. If it has ANY PLAY AT ALL that you can actually feel with your hand, then it is SO loose and SO worn out that it's likely to FALL OUT of the car any day now. Replace it immediately.

There is a bushing up inside the extension housing of the transmission, that the drive shaft yoke slides into. It is very easy to replace. Easiest way is, pop the housing off the back of the trans (4 bolts, plus the torque arm bracket), and knock it out and back in with a bushing tool. The bushing is a VERY common size; fits ALOT of different kinds of cars, should be easy to find at a parts store.

 

Thanks for the reply.

Ok, I'll check the U joints once more later. To be accurate I thought there was not ANY play there, but I'll make sure of it.

And the clicking sound comes from U joints?
It comes in a very periodic circle, so yes it might be coming from there...
Does that mean the U joints are worn out anyway?
And isn't there something else in the transmission that can make such a sound?

And thanks for the tip about replacing the bushing inside the extension housing.
It sounds easy enough, so I'll prepare and try to do it myself.
I cannot ignore such a play there!