jesterx

ermm.............. what is "torsional play" in laymans terms? and what exactly do the cvs lok like?

nope.. the noise goes away when the clutch is engaged. IE. between shifting gears etc.

Hrmm.. The thing is the front end never ever makes a noise with the clutch in and the tranny disengaged. No clicking or clunking at all when moving forward or turning unless I’m in gear. And when it does make a noise 1st-3rd gear. It reminds me a lot of the sound of a diesel engine? I have yet to take a second freeway test, Does that help the diagnosis any?

This is really odd? After just reading your post I took the car out for a lil test drive.. The shaking has gone away completely and I think I would define the clicking as more of a clunking. The sound seems to be coming from just in front of and below the center of the dash (transmission?) It does not increase when turning and in fact disappears completely when I depress the clutch. For the record this is a 5speed FWD 1983 DL wagon 1800. (pic in sig) The sound is most apparent in 1st and 2nd gear. I did not take it back on the freeway but what I am experiencing now is just as it was when I first bought it before my freeway test. SO I guess what I’m wondering now is: What could the clunking/clicking noise be that only occurs when I’m engaged in 1st 2nd and 3rd gear? -and- What would cause the car to vibrate/shake at high speeds 60-70+ and continue to vibrate and shake from the front end until I let it cool off over night?

A little background on myself: I have always bought used cars cheap and used a good Chilton’s or Haynes to do my own repairs and my own maintenance. Keep in mind I am no grease monkey just a weekend warrior repair as I need it type guy. I bought this car last Saturday from a nice guy for $450.00 he was really strait up but not much of a mechanic (he mentioned that he had never even preformed an oil change by himself). He explained the various issues with it most of which I have been able to fix with little or no problems. The last thing he mentioned is one or both of the CV joints needed to be replaced (I wonder how he came to that conclusion after he had told me that he was no mechanic, maybe a fried told him… who knows). Any ways I don’t really know what exactly CV joints are or what there purpose is but I think they have something to do with the front axle and how they connect to the wheel base? The initial symptoms were that in 1st, 2nd, and a little in 3rd gear there is a moderate to severe clicking noise coming from the front end it seems to subside as I was slowing down or breaking as well. At first it was not too much of a problem until I tried to do a freeway driving test. I got the car up to about 70 or so with out much effort but at that speeds it was shaking from the front end pretty heavily. Ever since that experience the clicking shaking on the front end is louder and extends even into 4th gear as well. Does this sound like CV joints? If so what parts will I need to buy to do a complete job of replacing them. If Not. Can someone give me their prognosis? Thanks in advance.

Decided to become a doner thanks to you guys.. =) this board is awsome !

EA81 Thanks alot ..=)

WoW thanks a ton for the quick reply =)

Just bought a 1983 Suburu DL Wagon VIN: JF1AM42BXDB407676 .. the manual is for either a 1600 or 1800.. I want to get the most specific repair manual I can wondering how to specify between the 1600 or 1800 type?