The bang hasnt gone!

Disco 200tdi
Every time I lifted the clutch to move the car, there was a ‘bang’ (both felt and heard). If I let the car slow and then accelerate quickly, there was a bang.

After much rolling around on the ground under the car, pushing and pulling everything in sight, I determined that it must be my input gear having worn (I didn’t even bother taking the PTO cover off to check as I was so convinced!).

So I put the car to an expert who only deals with landrover transmissions. He was going to take out the gearbox and transfer box, strip and rebuild, replacing anything showing wear. But when I got back from my holiday and picked up the car, he said that the transmission is one of the best (of a car this age) he has seen! There was nothing wrong with it at all. Instead, he pointed out that the a-frame ball joint had LOADS of play and this was the problem. You could actually move it around.

I got home (money still in my pocket!) and progressed to change out the a-frame ball joint and the bushes on the link arms. And right enough, I have since read loads of threads with people having the same symptoms and it being their a-frame ball joint.

I finished the job last night so took the car for a spin. Much to my despair, the ‘bang’ is still there!!

So what else could it be?!

Is it a sort of clunk as the engine takes up drivetrain slack? If so, there are a whole variety of places it could be hiding. Everywhere there's a spline or some gear wheels or a universal joint. A tiny bit of movement at each one can add up to quite a few degrees (maybe a quarter of a turn or so) of slack overall. Personally, my own experience of such a clunk was most improved by replacing the drive flanges on the rear hubs. But it can be difficult, and rather expensive, to get rid of it completely on an older vehicle.

Or does it sound like something other than drivetrain slack?

Have you checked engine and gearbox mounting bolts?