Well, I've been having this issue where my truck will sometimes seem to bounce front and back. This happens when it's in first or second gear, low speed, and I'm not giving it enough gas to accelerate yet not enough to decelerate. Like it's just right on the edge. Idk how to explain it any better lol

Anyway, I've also noticed that when starting off in first gear, it seems like it's picking up some slack in the drive line...

I was changing the tranny fluid today and I noticed that I could turn the drive shaft a little bit. Is this what's causing the bouncing problem? What can I do about it?

97 4banger

 

Is the drive shaft turning at the transmission end of rear end? Or is it moving at the u-joints connections?

 

Normally you can wiggle the driveshaft a very small amount (from my limited experience at least). You should let us know if it is a manual or automatic. Manuals have a tendency to buck when they operate in that sweet spot you described.

 

It is indeed a manual. It's also 2wd if that matters.

I'll check tomorrow and see where the play is.

 

Alright, I crawled under it today. First time I had the trans in neutral and the parking brakes on. This is when it wiggled. Then I put it in gear with the parking brake still on (so the driveshaft/trans didn't have a load on it.), and it wouldn't budge. I take it this means the looseness isn't at the trans end of the drive shaft? I'm not really a pro at drive shafts, I wasn't sure what else to look for.

 

Seems pretty normal to me. Mine will buck a little in 1st or 2nd, if you hit that spot you were describing. Kinda just one of those things about manuals. How long have you been driving the truck?

 

I guess if it's normal I won't worry too much about it. My grandpas little S10 didn't do this, so I figured mine was weird. :P Is there anything I can do to minimize this? Or do I just live with it?

 

Thats probably because Chevy Clutches tend to be softer than Chrysler's or at least in my experience, and they engage a bit smoother.

Basically all you can do is live with it or learn how to feather the clutch to lessen the harshness. But feathering the clutch can lead to pre-mature wear. It's a give and take really.

 

Ah, I didn't see that you have a 4 cylinder. The bucking you describe is a common problem with 4 cylinders in general. I think it has to do with the driveline telling the engine who's boss.

 

I should probably note that when it's bucking or starting off in gear, there is a definite clunking noise, not just the engine revving/slowing..

Been like this for the whole ~13k miles I've had it, about 10 months.