Clunking during shifting

[Howard]

Now feeling it in all gears which I was under the impression it wasn't is a sign of a clutch not disengaging fully.

I'm not really sure. It's not easily reproducible in other gears. I only know for sure it happens going to 1st.

Also, sometimes when I disengage the clutch while everything is hooked up (in drive) I get a bang/clunk. The driveshaft couplings are OK, I know that much.

 

[KentState]

I'm not really sure. It's not easily reproducible in other gears. I only know for sure it happens going to 1st.

Also, sometimes when I disengage the clutch while everything is hooked up (in drive) I get a bang/clunk. The driveshaft couplings are OK, I know that much.

All of my T56/T6060 equipped cars have made a bang/clunk sound when pushing in the clutch while in first like you described. I've heard it pretty much everyday as I pull into the garage.

 

[Howard]

Going to be putting this in soon.

https://creative-steel.com/store/index.php?l=product_detail&p=65

 

[jlee]

Going to be putting this in soon.

https://creative-steel.com/store/index.php?l=product_detail&p=65

Yup, that's what I was thinking. I'm getting one for my V as well...I have the same problem.

 

[phucheneh]

I'm confused, does it clunk when you put the shifter into gear, or when you apply power?

If the latter, it's driveline-related. Trans mount or U-joints would be the generic culprits. Bad bushings/bearing in the diff or trans are usually not prominent from a stop.

If it's the former, I don't see how it could be related to anything other than the shifter or linkage.

 

[Howard]

I'm confused, does it clunk when you put the shifter into gear, or when you apply power?

If the latter, it's driveline-related. Trans mount or U-joints would be the generic culprits. Bad bushings/bearing in the diff or trans are usually not prominent from a stop.

If it's the former, I don't see how it could be related to anything other than the shifter or linkage.

Here's what it is.

When in neutral, clunks when:

- shifter is put into gear

When in gear, clunks when:

- clutch is disengaged
- throttle is released
- throttle is depressed
- clutch is engaged

So basically, it clunks whenever anything is happening besides steady-state motion. The noise and impact lessens as the gear goes up, and is much harder under aggressive driving.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Now feeling it in all gears which I was under the impression it wasn't is a sign of a clutch not disengaging fully.

It's almost universal that the 1st gear synchro is the weakest by design. 1st gear is almost never shifted into under normal driving conditions unless the car is either stopped or almost stopped. This is why, back in the day, it was common for transmissions to have synchromesh only on 2nd through 4th or 5th gear, first gear just didn't "need" a synchro in the minds of the engineers. Today, while full synchromesh is essentially universal, the first gear synchro is generally not designed as robustly as the synchros on the higher gears.

It's pretty common for a dragging clutch to show up initially in only first gear.

ZV

 

[CraigRT]

It's almost universal that the 1st gear synchro is the weakest by design. 1st gear is almost never shifted into under normal driving conditions unless the car is either stopped or almost stopped. This is why, back in the day, it was common for transmissions to have synchromesh only on 2nd through 4th or 5th gear, first gear just didn't "need" a synchro in the minds of the engineers. Today, while full synchromesh is essentially universal, the first gear synchro is generally not designed as robustly as the synchros on the higher gears.

It's pretty common for a dragging clutch to show up initially in only first gear.

ZV

Totally agree. I replaced the clutch in my 96 Saturn a few years ago which was having shifting issues only in first. It was a worn pressure plate, once the new clutch went in, the car shifted perfectly in every gear.

 

[Howard]

Here's what it is.

When in neutral, clunks when:

- shifter is put into gear

When in gear, clunks when:

- clutch is disengaged
- throttle is released
- throttle is depressed
- clutch is engaged

So basically, it clunks whenever anything is happening besides steady-state motion. The noise and impact lessens as the gear goes up, and is much harder under aggressive driving.

And for the latter problem, the winner is exdeath!

Stupid GM engineers.

 

[Howard]

I can't even tell what kind of rubber it is. Whatever it is, though, when under strain or high temperatures or both, it "flows". I could see rubber "lava" leaking out around the bushing before I even started disassembling it. Too bad I didn't get any pics of that - at first I thought it was some sort of black Great Stuff.

The OEM bushing, which is the one that failed, is on the right. The replacement I put in today is on the left.

 

[Howard]

Also, I did a little test when I was up on the lift - I put the car into first as well as reverse, from neutral. The rear wheels actually did move slightly on both going into first gear and reverse gear, while the clutch was fully depressed. Not sure why this is happening on my car or if it's something to be concerned about, but I wish it doesn't.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Also, I did a little test when I was up on the lift - I put the car into first as well as reverse, from neutral. The rear wheels actually did move slightly on both going into first gear and reverse gear, while the clutch was fully depressed. Not sure why this is happening on my car or if it's something to be concerned about, but I wish it doesn't.

Pressing on the pedal to release the pressure plate does not physically pull the clutch disc away from the flywheel. All it does is provide room for the clutch disc to slip back on its own. It's to be expected that there will be some slight movement even with the clutch disengaged when the wheels have no resistance.

ZV