Transmission Clunks When Going Into Gear

My transmission clunks when I put it in drive! If you have a Camaro or Firebird with an aftermarket Torque arm you know all too well about this problem. If you don’t have an F-body you may be less accustomed to having this happen and shocked when your hear it. Maybe you installed something new and it happened right after your install, or maybe it crept it’s way into existence weeks, months or years later. If you don’t have a Camaro or Firebird you could still experience transmission clunks and the causes and fixes are likely going to be the same.

So what are those transmission clunks that you hear when you put the car into gear? It’s your drivetrain shifting under load! When your car is at rest the drivetrain is typically relaxed. When you put your transmission into gear, it puts a load on your drivetrain which in turn loads up your suspension getting the vehicle ready to move. This can cause a clunking sound if any of the below conditions are true.

What causes my transmission clunk when I put my car into gear?

• Have you checked to see if you have any loose bolts in your rear suspension? Check your control arms, mounting bolts, panhard rod (if equipped) sway bar bushings & end-links, etc.
• If you have a Camaro / Firebird with an aftermarket Torque arm (most notably a cross-member mounted one) check your mounting bolts at the rear differential, tunnel brace and all heim joints. Here is a link to get Spohn, UMI, BMR Torque Arm Torque Specs. Insuring these points are torqued properly to spec can eliminate this issue for a number of F-body owners who have an aftermarket torque arm setup.
• Have you checked your driveshaft bolts to insure that they are not loose causing an audible transmission clunk when it engages?
• Have you checked to make sure that your universal joints are not damaged or worn and in need of replacement?
• Have you removed your driveshaft and inspected your spline and yoke?
• Have you verified that your transmission mount is not torn or damaged?
• Have you verified that your engine mounts are not torn or damaged (less likely but engine movement can cause a clunking sound if it moves and taps something like the exhaust when under load)
• Have you checked your rear differential to insure that nothing is broken or damaged internally?

CONCLUSION

Hopefully the above has helped you work through your transmission clunk. Be sure to subscribe to our posts so that you do not miss out on future troubleshooting tips!

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