RDS928S

Ok group,

very depressing situation.
I just had new motor mounts installed, Motorsports x-pipe(no cats) and the flex plate/torque tube inspection adjustment on my 86S.
My Mechanic stated the torque tube flex plate adjustment was within spec and He made only 1/16 adjustment and tightened everything back up.
Shortly after I picked up the car a nasty rattle developed at the flex plate location and steadily grew louder.
I brought the car back to the shop and my P-car mechanic listened to the noise. The early diagnosis is the noise is definetly coming from the flex plate area and vibrating down the torque tube to the torque converter. The car is going back in on Monday to see what is wrong.
This last job cost over 1k.
Any ideas what could be causing this rattle?

Thanks in advance
RDS

Shark_gts

I personally just eye-ball the splines and if there is not much showing, I figure the flex plate load is not too high and leave things alone. The thrust bearing can shoulder axial load, it is designed to do that, just not massive load.

Rattle or vibration usually means something has loosened up.

tv

My only guess would be that the big allen head screw on the clamping sleeve was not tightened enough. I wouldn't even start before checking it. Not a tough job to check. Good Luck.

RDS928S

TV,

is it safe to drive in the current condition?.

Thanks Rich

Garth S

Some of the early flex plates were riveted to the splined locking collar: These rivets were prone to loosening and causing a rattle .... as the tension/preload was removed from your flexplate, this may be a cause that precipitated this noise.. if it is not as simple as tv noted.
Should that be the (remote?) case, the repair is to drill our the rivets and replace with bolts.
BTW, you can see inside through the inspection hole .... and if you shorten the back two bolts of the lower bellhousing cover by ~8mm ( or leave them out altogether), this cover can be dropped in 2-3 min to access the coupling without lowering the exhaust, etc.
I'm of the school that it is a good idea to loosen the allan bolt of the clamping sleeve and allow the fp to relax to its natural center .... then retorque to 60-65 ft.lbs.

tv

Personally I wouldn't drive it with a problem in that area. Others might. But i have heard the elders here constantly admonish people for "just trying to make it home" or similiar. I checked mine on ramps in the driveway.

What's a tow cost?

touque

AAA Plus = $79 per year and up to 4 tows of 100 miles each!

Tony

i dont understand the 1/16th inch adjustment? on what?

RDS928S

Tony,
I guess what ever part that can be moved or adjusted was moved?. Maybe the clamp?.

Sorry- I was not at the shop when they performed the work.

Thanks Rich

Bill Ball

If the mechanic means that 1/16th inch of pre-load was released from the flexplate (driveplate) when he loosened the clamp on the front of the TT, then that sounds very normal. Having a clatter in the TT so soon after working in that area is odd unless he did not adequately retorque the clamp bolt or he loosened and did not adequately retorque something else that he did not need to loosen.

This tip from Nichol's seems to fit your description.
http://www.nichols.nu/tip760.htm

However, it could be the rivets on the rear flexplate, as mentioned earlier, although I thought those were eliminated before 86. Not sure.
http://www.nichols.nu/tip754.htm

RDS928S

Bill,

great tip. #1 sounds dead on.
I feel better now.
The shop is only 5 miles from my house. Is it ok to drive it there?


Thanks Again Rich