86 GM Rear End "Kicks"

[defrost3]

Have a question, hopefully someone can relate to, quite often (not always) when I put my car into drive and start off, the rear "kicks" or jerks, it's not too bad sometimes, but other times it feels (and sounds) like I hit something, or like the rear of my car just fell off. Does anyone know what this could be, I know my shocks are worn out, would that have anything to do with it. I did have one person tell me they thought it was my transmission going out. Also there seems to be a rattle in my front steering on the left side, but i am thinking that is due to worn out shocks also.

[cobradude360]

have u checked the fluid because i have a friens ( i know differnt car) in which his would make a knockin noise but once i added fluid it went away still with a very tiny click but for the most part it went away

[defrost3]

I will try that and let you know thanks, Nice car by the way, wanna pimp mine?

[cobradude360]

well if u didnt live in missippi i would and thanks

[defrost3]

I could come pick you up, but you probably don't ride with strange girls. J/K

Seriously, all my fluids are fine, I dont know why it jerks like that, but it's just when you put it in gear and go and every once in awhile when you let off the gas and get back on it

[cobradude360]

well u dont seem strange and what i would do is take it to a shop that specializes in rear ends and have them go through it

[defrost3]

Thanks, I gotta go have some freeon put in it tommorow (wouldnt ya know the first hot day and it runs out). So I will just play dumb and ask the mechanic to look at it. I think one of my right front ball bearings may be worn out also. So hopefully I can find out something. Thanks for all your help, too bad i dont have the money, I'd come get ya. Where do you live by the way?

[fredjacksonsan]

Don't forget to check the U joints, and also that the wheel lugs are on securely.

[richter111]

There also exists a recall for the front cross member for early 90's crown vic's and GM's. the unit becomes detached from the frame, and the dealer has to weld in a replcement. It might explain the clunk you hear in the front end.

Contact your dealer with your VIN # to see if your vehical is affected by the recall

Ric

[cobradude360]

early 90's like mine which is 92 or older box style and btw i live in macomb michigan which is just north of detroit

[defrost3]

Mine is the old big body style, it's an 86 though so I doubt it's affected by the recall.

[Marco Sr.]

The most likely culprit is the Universal Joints on the drive shaft, and I'll bet the when you switch from drive to reverse you get another clink from it and you are probably experiencing some vibrations from about 35 MPH and higher.

So get the Ujoints replaced, I'm sure that is one of the next things that mine is going to do also (since like yours it's an 86 GM Wagon) of course it's very relative to how many miles and type of driving you do, mine has 150K miles on it.

Marco

Originally Posted by defrost3

Mine is the old big body style, it's an 86 though so I doubt it's affected by the recall.

[defrost3]

Thanks, I will check that....also, I have a radiator leak, but it seems to be from somewhere in the vicinity of the dashboard, under the car (in other words, it isnt out of the radiator directly), from what I can tell that is the only place it drips. Any tips or suggestions as to what/where this might be or what the problem could come from would be helpful.

[Marco Sr.]

Originally Posted by defrost3

Thanks, I will check that....also, I have a radiator leak, but it seems to be from somewhere in the vicinity of the dashboard, under the car (in other words, it isnt out of the radiator directly), from what I can tell that is the only place it drips. Any tips or suggestions as to what/where this might be or what the problem could come from would be helpful.

Is that leak water or is it actually coolant?

The reason I ask is that the AC will drip the extracted water from inside the car down on the right side by the firewall and this would be normal, you should be able to tell just by looking at the liquid if it is clear it's most likely water fromt he Air Conditioner, if it is discolored (green or a yellow green or pink in color) it's most likely coolant from the radiator and is probably the heater hose leaking, if it was the heater core it would be leaking on the inside of the car and your windows would fog up real bad plus there would be a sickly sweet smell from leaking coolant.

Marco Mollison Sr.

[defrost3]

Thanks for all the help, the pin broke the other day and i am getting the rear end replaced soon so hopefully things will run a little better. Also gonna get them to check into the leaking water/fluid.