clunk and vibration - 1996 Concorde

[Arnie Goetchius]

'96 concorde with 115K miles. Has a "clunk" when aceleratiing after coasting and vibration at 40-50 mph. Could this be CV joint, axel shafts, both?

What will this cost me (very roughly) to have someone repair it?

 

[m715fm]

Arnie
I have the same noise from my front end and some vibration. When I went to the local shop for repair they told me that it was the RACK & PINION system. Depending on which one was installed in your car it could cost for the part $200 - 300 plus time. The guy told me it was not at the point that it was needed to be replaced but they would keep an eye on it.
Frank

 

[Arnie Goetchius]

Arnie
I have the same noise from my front end and some vibration. When I went to the local shop for repair they told me that it was the RACK & PINION system. Depending on which one was installed in your car it could cost for the part $200 - 300 plus time. The guy told me it was not at the point that it was needed to be replaced but they would keep an eye on it.
Frank

Thanks for responding. Another person said it might be motor mounts. I'll have a repair place check it out next week.

 

[Art]

Could also be rear transmission mount.

Thanks for responding. Another person said it might be motor mounts. I'll have a repair place check it out next week.

 

[Arnie Goetchius]

I'm thinking that is also a possibility. When I first start it up in the morning in the driveway and put it in reverse, I get the clunk.

 

[Art]

If the clunk feels like it is from underneath the shifter console, definitely the rear AT mount. The best part is after replacement the noise, vibration and the harshness will go down dramatically in the car based on my experience with a 94 LHS. I wonder if the part was improved or if it just wears out.

 

[Steve (archive)]

If the clunk feels like it is from underneath the shifter console, definitely the rear AT mount. The best part is after replacement the noise, vibration and the harshness will go down dramatically in the car based on my experience with a 94 LHS. I wonder if the part was improved or if it just wears out.

I think they deteriorate a lot before the fail enough to allow the "clunk." I was about convinced my wife's car had a cracked flex plate or had shed a balance weight off the torque convertor (assuming there are any...) but replacing the engine mounts and transmission mount made it feel like a new car.

 

[Art]

When my 94 LHS was new, it had to have a snubber fix in the AT to prevent a chain from hitting the casing. I always thought the car was noisier after the repair and it was remedied years later with the AT rear mount replacement. I always wondered if the mount was damaged during that first repair.

 

[Arnie Goetchius]

A mechanic said that the problem was a rusted out "cradle mounting isolator". He wasn't sure if he could get the parts or get the bolt out. I think I'll take it to a dealer. Anybody have any other thoughts?

 

[Art]

Dealer sounds like a good idea to me. When you authorize the repair, authorize fixing the clunk and not repairing a particular part. That way if the first fix doesn't work you have a leg to stand on. So make sure the repair order says fix the clunk.