How much should the rear diff move when it is put into D? Mine moves up pob about an inch. When putting the car into D it makes two loud pops coming from where the axle goes into the diff on the passenger side.

 

sounds like your diff mounts are compromised. there should be deflection but not by much. popping could be bad axles.

how did you find out? you were under there while someone put the car in gear?

 

Under as little as possible while the gf put it in gear. Went back under and the front diff mount is def bad. Just trying to find the right bushings and see how hard it is to change. Really hoping thats the issue.

 

common as the rubber deteriorates. they do make solid mounts, but that would horrendously vibrate!

 

I don't know for sure, but I would think one of the main causes for those bushings to go bad, is trying to drive these cars like race cars which they are not. If it is driven like the old granny car that it was meant to be things should last for a very long time. Well except for the front suspension that doesn't seem to last for a granny either. Rapid acceleration starts would not be good on the stock rubber bushings nor on the rubber ujoints.

 

Got the parts ordered. Just gotta look an see how hard this will be.

I think over 300k miles might put some wear on that bushing or the last owner drove the heck out of it.

 

Got the bushing installed no more thump when putting the car in gear.

 

good to hear, was it hard to press in?

 

This is interesting. I've been having a problem with the trans(or what I thought was the trans) "popping'
and bucking a little forward(or back in R) no matter how hard I have my foot on the brakes. i just assumed the trans was on it's way out and needed a rebuild or something. Think I'll have a look at the diff mounts and axles in general after reading this, thanks for bringing this up.

 

Check the actual transmission mount first.

 

Thanks for the tip.
Did while I was doing the gasket/filter awhile ago (was hoping a fluid change would help the situation), looks pretty new actually, think the previous owner may have had it done. in any case no sign of tearing or wear on it.

 

I didn't do it because I wasn't sure how difficult it would be. I was able to watch the mechanic and it didn't look bad. Only took him a total of 30 min to remove and install. The only symptom was a thunk into D. R was just fine.

 

it may not look torn but could have broken at the very bottom. mine looked fine but broken into two pieces when removed!

 

Can you post the part number please?