Jerky Gear Shift

[gopiqpp]

Hi, I recently noticed that my 88CP jerks a bit when it shifts into the next gear. It has also started happening while shifting into D or R from P. I have to step down real hard on the brake pedal when shifting into R or D, and when I release the pedal there is a bit of a jerk.The transmission fluid levels are OK. There are no abnormal whines or rattles while driving or at idle.
A leaking rear main seal was replaced a month ago. Stopped the leak, but I feel that this gear shift problem started at around the same time.
How do I troubleshoot this ? Thanks

[Wray-Wray]

could you have bent the tranny linkage when you unhooked it to move the tranny back to get to the rear main? that would explain the hard shifts into drive and reverse...im not so sure about when you driving and itz switching gears tho...when was the last time the tranny was serviced and had a new filter? i don't kno much about the governors in the tail shaft of the tranny....im not sure if they go bad or not or if they get dirty or w/e you might wanna look into that as well...but ask someone like gadget or lincomaina about the governors they would kno for sure on that point.....but thats what i would check those 3 things

[gadget73]

Possibly universal joints or a bad trans mount. The rear mounts become very soft when they get old and oil soaked. Mine is roughly the consistency of Jello. U joints will allow the driveshaft joints to move more than they should, and it can cause a banging noise from the additional play in the joints. If the gear selector is hard to move, possibly a bent shift linkage or it may just need lubrication. They're hard to get undone sometimes, so it may have gotten bent when the transmission was pulled to repair the rear main seal.

[gopiqpp]

The jerk is more evident when the car is still cold on first start up, and decreases later. The gear selector is easy to move. The best comparision I can make is that when I release the brake pedal after shifting into gear there is sudden engagement as if some resistance has been overcome( like a sticking parking brake?) before the car moves.I will get the U-Joints and rear mounts inspected. Could a choked transmission filter cause the problem?

[Wray-Wray]

i think that would be something to look at(like i said before). When was the last time it had a new filter? and has has all the fluid flushed and replaced?

[mrltd]

u joints, mounts, or bad rear gears.

[gopiqpp]

OK, heres the update. Took it to the garage and they drove it around a bit, came back and pumped some lubricant into the rear axle (?differential). They said the transmission and U-Joint and mounts were OK. I drove it back home and the jerking has disappeared. Had to replace the left front lower ball joint too, and a leaky brake cylinder right rear. Got the wheel alignment done after doing the ball joint. Amazing, the number of problems they found while poking around underneath. Just like dentists.

[gadget73]

If the axle was low enough to make noise, it must have leaked out somewhere. I wouldn't be too surprised if your rear axle seals are leaking.

[gopiqpp]

I went under the car with him, and no,didnt see any leaks. No stains on the ground after parking. Could the level have become less after probably years of inattention ? The previous owner usually just drove till something stopped working.

[brokebill]

look on the inside of the back rims for traces of gear oil(pushing out through the seals) and check the pop off/vent valve on the top left side of the axle to make sure its not gummed up and sticking shut.
it really fucked my axle up.

good luck, Bill

[gadget73]

Axle seal problems will usually show up inside the rims, or under the drum. It mostly will leak when driving, not when parked. Most people don't change the rear oil, so thats not too unusual. It doesn't evaporate or anything, its really thick stuff.