Clunk / Thud When Downshifting

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • 3liter6
    Advanced Member
    • Sep 2005
    • 119

    #16
    Originally posted by lateracer
    Subscribed....same car. EXACT same problem. EXACT.


    Yup. Anyone figured this out yet?

    Comment

    • saxguy09
      Advanced Member
      • Jun 2010
      • 187

      #17
      Bump
      sigpic

      Comment

      • lateracer
        Grease Monkey
        • Sep 2009
        • 302

        #18
        My transmission eventually went bad and I sold the car as a 5spd swap candidate that was capable of limping to wherever it needed to go.

        I eventually got the car up on a lift and watched it go through gears with the park brake engaged a few clicks to simulate a load. Driveshaft was worn out, diff bearings spun, cv joints were at the end of their lives. The clunk was definitely from the trans, but the rest of the drive line was amplifying it.

        Judging by the carfax report for my car, the trans had just under half a million miles. Can't really complain I guess.

        In hindsight, I should have put it on the lift to watch it run right away. I didn't spend much $$ to chase down the problem, but I spent countless hours tightening bolts that were already tight, reading discussion threads that were wild goose chases.

        Occam's razor; the clunk from the transmission turned out to be the transmission.
        sigpic

        Comment

        • Tom Brady
          Noobie
          • Sep 2012
          • 37

          #19
          Bump

          Anyone figure this one out? Same year, Same make, Same model: Same problem.

          If my tranny is about go I'd really appreciate the heads up but if the problem is in the driveline, at least that I could realistically have fixed. What I absolutely dont want to happen is to have either replaced or repaired and it turns out the problem was in the other.

          Please somebody lmk what you think, thanks!

          Comment

          • wasabinuki
            Advanced Member
            • Jan 2010
            • 117

            #20
            Your transmission is about to die.

            Comment

            • Etexise30
              Banned
              • Sep 2012
              • 208

              #21
              check center support bearing,check u-joints and check diff fluid level,then do a diff test by rotating the half shafts.i dnt think your trans is gonna die so follow this trail====Guibo-driveshaft-u joint-center support bearing-u joint-driveshaft-u joint-fluid level check-rotation by hand-(if L.S.D open diff and check for Clutch wear)

              Comment

              • Etexise30
                Banned
                • Sep 2012
                • 208

                #22
                when my buddies lsd was going out .it was nothing but pure clunks and thuds

                Comment

                • lateracer
                  Grease Monkey
                  • Sep 2009
                  • 302

                  #23
                  You can guess what the mystery clunk is, or have a pro who specializes in E30s give you the real deal. Probably not around the corner from you, but if your car can limp to Huntington, go see Robert at E30 motor werks. You're pretty much pissing in the wind with guesses otherwise.

                  http://www.e30motorwerks.com/
                  sigpic

                  Comment

                  • wasabinuki
                    Advanced Member
                    • Jan 2010
                    • 117

                    #24
                    Originally posted by lateracer
                    You can guess what the mystery clunk is, or have a pro who specializes in E30s give you the real deal. Probably not around the corner from you, but if your car can limp to Huntington, go see Robert at E30 motor werks. You're pretty much pissing in the wind with guesses otherwise.

                    http://www.e30motorwerks.com/
                    I am the one who started this thread, and if you look at the first post in the thread you will see what I replaced in my efforts to "fix" my clunk/thud. I've taken my car to Robert several times for installs and like him very much. I also took it to him to help me diagnose what was causing the thunk (to which he said my transmission was fine). I'm just saying that from my experience, and in my opinion, I'd bet that the transmission is the cause of the problem.

                    Comment

                    • myfirst325
                      Advanced Member
                      • Oct 2010
                      • 107

                      #25
                      Same problem. Just started noticing the tranny thud while coming to a stop. Wasabi, did you drive it till the tranny died. How many miles after you started hearing the thud. I was hoping to make it to summer before the 5 speed swap.

                      Comment

                      • AwakenNoMore
                        E30 Fanatic
                        • Dec 2010
                        • 1291

                        #26
                        Hmmm, interesting thread, my car does this too. Not a constant thing but it'll downshift too late or something like that. As long as it lasts until tax season I don't care. I pick up a G260 last week, just need the rest. Can't wait to be rid of this slushbox prison.
                        1991 325i - "Scambles" The Daily Driven lightly modded.
                        1988 Mazda RX-7 TII "Mako" The Free Dorito
                        bacon by Jared Laabs, on Flickr

                        Comment

                        Working...