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Symptoms:
Shifting into reverse with the car running it grinds, it can be "popped" in, but I have just been either starting it in reverse or shutting it off and shifting into reverse.
A downshift into 1st above 10 mph can cause a grinding as well as a very stiff shifter "feel".
When backing up, there is a "popping" noise related to the speed of motion(speeds up slows down). If I pull it into neutral while moving back the noise goes away.
I have been reading a lot of the information on The Pantera Place website and wondered if any of these symptoms can be traced back to the clutch freeplay adjustment?
I did change the fluid in the ZF and screened the old fluid as it drained for any foreign objects/particles. Fluid looked brand new, magnetic plug had some gray sludge buildup, but not much and nothing in it large enough to feel.
The "popping" noise didn't appear until the freeplay ajustment was messed with slightly at a performance shop, this was befor I read about the adjustment on Pantera Place. They seemed to think that the clutch might be getting weak causing the revese shifting issue as well as the 1st gear issue.
I know these are probably some basic questions that have probably been covered already, I'm searching as much as possible, but wanted to throw these Q's out to see what you all thought.
I am still looking through the service/build documents to see what was done to the ZF when it was re-geared, I know about the safety wire so I'm trying to see if this was done.
Thanks for any help!
Jeff
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Some grinding going into reverse is pretty common. A lot of owners shift into 2nd before engaging reverse. I do. This may help.

As far as the popping noise, that isn't one I've heard of before. That would make me uneasy too. It's good that the fluid is clean, but if it was changed by the previous owner right before you bought it, it may have been to hide something.

I have this terrible vision of a loose ring gear with one of the bolt heads shaved off at an angle on top. When forward torque is applied, it doesn't hit anything, when reverse torque is applied, it "tips" in the other direction and just barely clips something.

A bad vision...and certainly not one based in fact. Just trying to imagine what could causing a noise in reverse, but not forward.

Hope it is something simpler.
Mooso.
quote:
Originally posted by DeTom:
It could just be a u-joint on the output shaft making that clunk sound only in reverse.

This was a thought I had also, I greased the chassis while I was at it and thought maybe it would quiet the noise if it was the culpret. No change. They all seem to be in good condition, but I will check them again.
On a side note, I have 38 zerk fittings under the car, lol. local shop I took it to the guy spent 20 minutes rollng back and forth in their mini pit checking and rechecking to make sure he got them all. They let me get under my vehicles and check things out, pretty good place.
They were terrified when I pulled up with tha Pantera, they are used to farm trucks pulling in with fresh cow poop waiting to drop on them in the pit.
Also, the halfshaft U-joints make an interesting spray pattern on the bottom side of the rear decklid after they have been greased............ DOH!!!!
Mooso: funny, I had that same "vision"
I don't think any of the fluids had been recently changed, slight road/oil film on pands etc. had not been disturbed.
I was really leaning towards the u-joints being the issue, need to get it on a lift and unload the chassis so I can free spin everything and check for any binding. The car only got 20K miles on it over 17 years, and had been stored for a while before I got it so some issues may just be from lack of use. Better safe than sorry.
Thanks guys, I'll keep checking back.
Jeff
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