Conundrum

I've noticed what seems to be excessive play in my driveline. The best way I can describe it is that it has similar symptoms to a bad u-joint. That slack in the driveline feeling and sound. I noticed it right after I bought the car. Has anyone else experienced or noticed anything like this? Is this normal in the '05, with all those joints in the driveshaft?

clintoris

That might be where people have been heraing problems.... the whole driveshaft with a carrier bearing in it is a new one for the Mustang... previously it's just been a yolk right off the output shaft on the tranny and a shaft with a slip joint right before the u-joint to the differential.... new idea that might need some re-engineering.

adrenalin

thankfully I have not had that problem but others have talked about it in the forum

lodom

The 8.8 was notoriously clunky in the SN95 and was not the U joints. I didn't expect any improvement in the S197, but I also didn't expect the gear noise on decelleration either.

clintoris

I never had any problems with my 8.8 in my '88 or '98..... well, there was this pinion seal leak in the '98, but I would never have known that until I left it in the garage for a week and found a puddle..... then on a lift, you could see that it had whipped the fluid up and put a nice strip on the undercarriage.... God knows how long it leaked, but I had the dealer replace everything in there, including a set of 3.73s at no cost to yours truely.

I know that's one issue that's been discussed here, but I'm understanding the noise that Conundrum is referring to is up near the tranny? Is that what you're talkin' about? or are you hearing your vibration towards the differential? 'cause that's a known issue amongst the forum members.... no known 'cause, though.... again, speculation about gear backlash settings....

os121

No problems with that on mine. Hopefully your dealer can correct that one quickly.

bullittman

There is some "Chucking" of the drive line.......It is not as pronounced as in my 2001 Bullitt though. I do believe it is normal. I can especially feel it when I "Granny" shift from ist to second,second to third.

Chaotic Bliss

I have it too. I don't actually think it is a problem. I only notice it once in a while.

05SatinGT

Yes, I have it. I think it's completely normal for this car and not a problem.

The previous generation Mustangs have the same noises ..
(I think even more so having owned both)

This car will never be as refined as a Honda .. Accept it for what it is and you'll
be happy .. a most awesome muscle car !!

97svtgoin05gt

I couldn't agree more with "it's normal for these cars". I feel as if a lot of the chatter about the "sounds" are from people who have never experienced Mustangs before. They all have some degree of noises. These drivelines are far from perfect, but are fairly bullit proof from a reliability standpoint. The slop referred to exists in my car, but with good driving technique it's really not noticable. If you're car is clunkin alot, you need to refine your shifting technique.

wild stray

I think a lot of the noise will go away when people are truely use to driving the car. Been twenty years since I drove a stick and I can tell I am not as smooth in shifting as I use to be, but getting better all the time. Only "klunks" occassionally now!

Conundrum

Thanks for the feedback.
The driveline slack/noise is not the result of shifting technique, it is there on accel or decel in any gear. I can finesse my way around it with the clutch. Could be coming from the back of the trans to the differential, or anywhere in between. It's hard to say from inside the car.
Yes indeed, Mustang V8 sticks make many mechanical driveline sounds, and I've become accustomed to most of them over the years. It just seems to be more play than I've experienced in older Mustangs (without bad u-joints).
I was hoping to get some opinions from the Mustang experienced members here concerning slack in the driveline of the 05 as compared to older model mustangs.
If my memory serves me correctly (and it may not) my 90 5.0 didn't have this kind of play in it until I had over 100,000 miles on it. I banged the gears in that car for 11 years, and nothing ever broke. I loved that car, until the steering failed going 60, leaving scrap metal, and 2 amazed but unscathed occupants.