Nasty clunk pulling away!

Hi.

It would be worth checking the ball joint on the rear between the rear axel and the a frame. Mine had a small amount of play and caused a large clunk when pulling away and also sometimes between gear changes on my 91 200 tdi.

Andy.

Cheers Mr LandyAndy. I will check that out but I have a strong feeling that its either the front diff or transfer box as when I rotate the prop I can just here a quiet clunk as it reaches the end of its free play. The rear prop has no play in it at all so I'm thinking maby its not the transfer box but the front diff?? Just wondered if anyone else has encountered this problem before I start taking all sorts of things apart. What would be most helpfull would be if some one who doesn't mind geting dirty is to just try to rotate their front prop by hand to see if there is any movement and if so how much?? Cheers

Does it happen when you select gear and does the noise come from under the centre console? If so it could be a worn output shaft from the gearbox assembly.

Is the hand brake on when you do this, remember the transmission brake locks on the rear prop, so that fault could be at the back, its just seems there is no play because its physicaly locked in poistion.

I can select all the gears, smoothly and quietly but when I bring the clutch up thats when it makes the clunk. The sound does come from the front of the vehicle as you have said. If the shaft is errr shafted.... Surly that would only meen play at the box end of the prop? but i have movement from the box to the front diff. Do diffs have a fair bit of play in them normaly or has that had it as well. Also to answer the other point, yes I did have the hand brake on so I will try it again without it on and try not to get squashed in the process.

Disco Inferno said:

I can select all the gears, smoothly and quietly but when I bring the clutch up thats when it makes the clunk. The sound does come from the front of the vehicle as you have said. If the shaft is errr shafted.... Surly that would only meen play at the box end of the prop? but i have movement from the box to the front diff. Do diffs have a fair bit of play in them normaly.

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YEP! mine suffered the same symtoms(well,for the last five years) and i know of a few others,all the same! ,might be worth checking the the big Ny-lock nut(the one that connect the prop flange to splined shaft on the box & diffs) It shows up as sideways movement,If its loose, so you dont need to remove the prop to feel it (as thou the bearings gone) this wont cure it bye any means, wont do any harm to check
Best way to stop it? alter the way you drive, slip the clutch a bit.
Have fun!

Well thanks for all the replys. It will give me some things to check this weekend. I just wanted to make sure it was nothing that might fail while towing because of the small fact of 1 1/4 tons of caravan behind it and not wanting to be stuck half way with a landy that wont move cos somthing in the drivetrain has given up. Cheers for the help Mark. If any one else has encountered this problem and fixed it / made it a bit better I would love to hear about it. Thanks again

Disco Inferno said:

. I just wanted to make sure it was nothing that might fail while towing because of the small fact of 1 1/4 tons of caravan behind it

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Yer dint mention you had one of those (buy a tent)

Good luck Disco.