urbex Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 (edited) Ok... When I shift the Lumina into reverse, whether it's from Park or neutral, it clunks, and the car almost jolts as it's shifting. It's done this for a while now, but beings I wasn't a member here and never even knew about the site I really had no one to ask or nothing to do but put up with it. I've been searching, and I've seen people mention things about the dog bones being worn out. For the life of me, I can't find what that is. I've searched and searched, and I can't find where they are on the 3.1, or what they even look like. Is that the mount on the front of the engine that connects it to the radiator support? If so, when I rock the car those are somewhat noisy.... But I have no idea if those are the dog bones or not? I'm sure the answer is somewhere in the forum, but I can't find it. If someone could point me to it, or tell me, I'd greatly appreciate it. Also some background on the tranny. First off, it's original with 153k miles. About a year ago whenever the car would get wet (drive through a big puddle) or when driving uphilll it would surge...mostly around 50mph, and especially if you were accelerating, but it would do it at steady speeds sometimes as well. Kinda felt like the TCC was going bad. Ended up replacing a speed sensor because someone told me to, and as I was doing that noticed the lid to the PCM was half open. After I fixed both of those it quit doing it, but I'm pretty sure the PCM was getting wet causing it to do that. Hasn't done it since. Also, this fall when I got the car out, the tranny was leaking fluid. Not much, but a little. Kept topping it off when it needed and it was fine. Then, it stopped leaking, and hasn't since. Also in the fall I was at a stoplight turning red. When I hit the gas, the car sat there, revved up, then BAM! Shifted and threw me back in the seat. Never done it since then, or before. It's been fine since then, but I figured I better throw that info in there in case there's any clues. Also, when I shift into park I hear a clicking noise...but I'm assuming that's just it locking, and that's normal. But going from things I've read, it looks like the dog bones can be making the noise into reverse, and that the other issues were just coincidence. So thank you for your help guys! I can't get over how helpful this place really is! Edited March 31, 2011 by urbex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbex Posted March 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 So, are the red circled things the dog bones? Like I said, those make some noise when I rock the car.... And if they are, could that be what's causing the clunk? Again, forgive my ignorance. lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breakdown Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 So, are the red circled things the dog bones? Like I said, those make some noise when I rock the car.... And if they are, could that be what's causing the clunk? Again, forgive my ignorance. lol Yes, they are. The inner-rubbery thing gets worn and allows play. To my knowledge if there is play you need to replace the entire dogbone, they rubber parts either cannot be added seperately or are not sold seperately. Put someone in your car and shift through all of the gears while you have your foot on the brake and the hood up, and watch how much the engine elevates, that will give you an indication. If you're wondering why it's not hitting the hood while it's closed after doing that, it's probably because those are worn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbex Posted March 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 Great, thanks a bunch Rich! After my dad gets home I'll have him help me out and I'll check. If those are bad, hopefully that fixes it. It doesn't really bother me, but it's kind of annoying, and I don't want to hurt anything. I haven't checked, but I assume parts stores sell them? Or do I have to get them from a junkyard? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 those ARE the dogbones. MOD TIME! The squared front inner rubber bushings on those style of dogbones have a lot of slack from the factory. with careful work you can fix that. you need lubricant (tire shine works great!) and 13 and 15mm wrenches/sockets unbolt the wishbone part from the front part of the mount and flop them out of the way. reinsert the bolt and tighten it against the nut until it is locked into the mount. lubricate mount. turn bolt in the direction to spin the bushing which ever way you choose, the goal is to rotate it 90 degrees. lubricate repeatedly if needed... struggle... Succeed! remove bolt, bring wishbone part back to position,m reinsert through mount and tighten. repeat for opposite mount. test: is there still the clunk? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbex Posted March 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 those ARE the dogbones. MOD TIME! The squared front inner rubber bushings on those style of dogbones have a lot of slack from the factory. with careful work you can fix that. you need lubricant (tire shine works great!) and 13 and 15mm wrenches/sockets unbolt the wishbone part from the front part of the mount and flop them out of the way. reinsert the bolt and tighten it against the nut until it is locked into the mount. lubricate mount. turn bolt in the direction to spin the bushing which ever way you choose, the goal is to rotate it 90 degrees. lubricate repeatedly if needed... struggle... Succeed! remove bolt, bring wishbone part back to position,m reinsert through mount and tighten. repeat for opposite mount. test: is there still the clunk? I'll have to try that later tonight after class or tomorrow and see if that works. Thanks!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3pt1lumina Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 My Lumina clunked, and it was actually the lower motor mount that went bad, not the dog bones. The lower mount was $54. Could also be a trans mount. Mine had 165k when I replaced. You can get all of these at any parts store. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbex Posted March 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 My Lumina clunked, and it was actually the lower motor mount that went bad, not the dog bones. The lower mount was $54. Could also be a trans mount. Mine had 165k when I replaced. You can get all of these at any parts store. I'll check both of those out as well. I figure I'll try what Crazy K said first (beings the price is right...) and go from there. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbex Posted April 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2011 Well, finally able to have my mom help me out and change gears while I watched. Didn't jump too high, but I don't know how much it should do it anyways. It sounded like the noise was coming from the back of the engine near the passenger side..... I think isn't that where the lower motor mount is? Figure I'll still try what Crazy K said first since it can't hurt and is free... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AL Posted April 1, 2011 Report Share Posted April 1, 2011 It shouldnt move at all when shifting, maybe a tiny bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundernuts1979 Posted April 1, 2011 Report Share Posted April 1, 2011 I had the same issue in my 95 lumina..and I replaced the trans mount and lower motor mount with solid...(non fluid filled) ones...worked like a charm and I don't need to worry again about them leaking or clunking I included some pics of the lower motor mount and what it looked like before changing it...the bolt was the only thing holding it together... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbex Posted April 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2011 Thanks so much for the pictures! Of course, Bdubs was more important than working on my car tonight. Hopefully tomorrow I can get some garage time, maybe I'll at least get down under the car and do a visual inspection of the lower mount. Thanks again!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundernuts1979 Posted April 2, 2011 Report Share Posted April 2, 2011 little hint...if you are changin the lower motor mount...you can put it in backwards ...and it seems like it fits..except you cant get the bolts to fit....you will swear its in correctly..and get pissed..just to find out its backwards..lol..not that I did that or anything..lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbex Posted April 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2011 Ha ha ha, well thanks for the heads up. That sounds just like something that would happen to me, lol! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbex Posted April 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2011 Ok, so after trying with no luck, I remember you said to lube it...wow, what a difference, lol. Anyways, here is before: And here is after: Notice how the after picture looks like a retarded monkey had his way with it...is that alright how oddly deformed and twisted it is? Like one side is partly sticking out of the bracket a tad bit... That wont hurt anything will it? I didn't do both sides yet just because I wanted to be sure I didn't ruin the first side... Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted April 2, 2011 Report Share Posted April 2, 2011 you have the right idea... but keep turning it, it will eventually pop and be straight. looks like you need more lubricant to help... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbex Posted April 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2011 Keep turning it? I wasn't paying attention and I accidentally turned it 180 degrees, so I had to turn it back to 90...I don't know if that's what caused it to do that or what. It started raining out now...so I just hooked it back up for today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbex Posted April 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2011 (edited) I will admit, when I rock the car back and forth that side of the engine doesn't move as much... I'll have to do the other side (obviously) and see how it is. I did do a visual inspection under the car, and I will admit that the motor mound did have grease on it. In fact, I've noticed that had always been greasy, and when I change the oil I'd wipe it off...never knew that was the motor mount though, so I'm wondering if perhaps it's leaking...? Edited April 2, 2011 by urbex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundernuts1979 Posted April 3, 2011 Report Share Posted April 3, 2011 its all about the lube Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbex Posted April 4, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2011 Well, I did turn the other bushing, and it helped, but it's still there.... I decided to jack the car up and remove the wheel to get a look at the motor mount: I'm thinking that doesn't look very healthy....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbex Posted April 4, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2011 (edited) So here's my question. Is this is dire need of replacing? Then, what are some good brands? I know people have said to get solid ones, which makes sense... I've seen Anchor on Rock Auto, but it's fluid filled and I can get a solid slightly cheaper at Advance Auto. Auto Zone has Duralast but it's a little more...and honestly the part # is the same as the Anchor brand... Are they all made by the same company and just repackaged and repriced for different suppliers? I mean, why would I pay more for the one at Auto Zone if it's the same? I'm sure getting one directly from GM would be best, but I don't have that kind of money to spend... http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_Mount-Engine-Transmission-Anchor_19300349-P_27_R|GRPENGPAMS_1465702203____ or http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/Duralast-Motor-Mount/1999-Chevrolet-Lumina/_/N-jd55bZ8ii2i?counter=1&filterByKeyWord=motor+mount&fromString=search&itemIdentifier=866223_195311_16129_ Other than brand, the one difference I see is it looks like AutoZone has a lifetime warranty...not sure if Advance does....so I don't know if that'd make the price worth it or not... Edited April 4, 2011 by urbex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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