clunking sound when I shift from park

[Mark72]

This is on a 95 Chev Lumina. When I shift it from park to reverse I hear a clunk sound from the engine. A year ago my dash was vibrating apart so I replaced the lower hydrolic oil filled mount and the two wishbone mounts up front and the vibrating stopped. Now for about the past month I've noticed what I discribed above as the clunking sound when I shift from park to reverse. I had a friend do it while I looked at the motor and I did notice a lot of play in the two front wishbone mounts that sit on top front of the motor but the sound I'm hearing is coming from down low seeminglh in the back of the motor somewhere. I assume it is not the mount I replaced a year ago, but is there a different motor mount or could it be something else. Any help apreciated

and thank you.

 

[tommygunn]

Does it clunk between drive and reverse with the brakes on?

Could be bad CV joints.

 

[Mark72]

Originally Posted By: tommygunn
Does it clunk between drive and reverse with the brakes on?

Could be bad CV joints.


No, the only time I notice the "clunk" sound is going from park to reverse. That could be a CV joint issue? I would like to add that recently when I parked on a slight incline i shut the motor off, took my foot off the brake after I placed it in park and the car lurched forward and made the same sound.

 

[yonyon]

+1 on the CV joints. Also check for loose axle to hub nuts, deteriorated cradle mounts, deteriorated lower control arm bushings, loose brake caliper bolts, loose bolts/nuts at mounts you've already replaced (oopsies happen,) deteriorated trans mount. Keep in mind that because driveline lash is cumulative acceptable lash from wear in the transaxle added to acceptable lash from wear in the CV joints can add up to enough total lash to create a clunk. Is the engine idle speed normal?

 

[yonyon]

Forget the control arm bushings and brake caliper bolts I suggested, it isn't those.

 

[Warstud]

If your car is parked on a incline you will hear a clunk. If so use your parking brake before putting it in reverse.

 

[Mark72]

Originally Posted By: Warstud
If your car is parked on a incline you will hear a clunk. If so use your parking brake before putting it in reverse.


Agreed on the parking break. I usually do, but did not in that instance. Thank you for all the suggestions. When I see my mechanic at least I'll know to mention some of those issues mentioned above. I'm sure he will know what to look for but I wanted to have some sort of idea as well before I took it in for diagnostics

 

[david_ES2]

First thing i thought of is if you set the parking brake because if you didnt thats the sound youll get from letting the car hang on the parking paw

 

[PZR2874]

Originally Posted By: Warstud
If your car is parked on a incline you will hear a clunk. If so use your parking brake before putting it in reverse.


This is the best advise for an automatic.

I tell the wife to park at the bottom of our driveway for this exact reason (stress on gears).

 

[Mark72]

Here is the outcome. so I took the car to reputable transmission shop here in town. I know the guy who owns it, and he was there. He pulled it into the shop an took a closer look/listen to it. Brought it back out and said everything is ok and that the final drive of the trans has some play in it which is normal. He said as the parts get old, this can happen but nothing is in danger of quitting on me. So that is what the clunking sound is. Any of you have this same thing going on? Does it sound right as far as what I was told?