clunk and vibration - 1996 Concorde

'96 concorde with 115K miles. Has a "clunk" when aceleratiing after
coasting and vibration at 40-50 mph. Could this be CV joint, axel
shafts, both?

What will this cost me (very roughly) to have someone repair it?

 

Arnie
I have the same noise from my front end and some vibration. When I went to
the local shop for repair they told me that it was the RACK & PINION
system. Depending on which one was installed in your car it could cost for
the part $200 - 300 plus time. The guy told me it was not at the point that
it was needed to be replaced but they would keep an eye on it.
Frank

 

Thanks for responding. Another person said it might be motor mounts.
I'll have a repair place check it out next week.

 

Could also be rear transmission mount.

 

I'm thinking that is also a possibility. When I first start it up in the
morning in the driveway and put it in reverse, I get the clunk.

 

If the clunk feels like it is from underneath the shifter console,
definitely the rear AT mount. The best part is after replacement the noise,
vibration and the harshness will go down dramatically in the car based on my
experience with a 94 LHS. I wonder if the part was improved or if it just
wears out.

 

I think they deteriorate a lot before the fail enough to allow the
"clunk." I was about convinced my wife's car had a cracked flex plate or
had shed a balance weight off the torque convertor (assuming there are
any...) but replacing the engine mounts and transmission mount made it
feel like a new car.

 

When my 94 LHS was new, it had to have a snubber fix in the AT to prevent a
chain from hitting the casing. I always thought the car was noisier after
the repair and it was remedied years later with the AT rear mount
replacement. I always wondered if the mount was damaged during that first
repair.

 

A mechanic said that the problem was a rusted out "cradle mounting
isolator". He wasn't sure if he could get the parts or get the bolt out.
I think I'll take it to a dealer. Anybody have any other thoughts?

 

Dealer sounds like a good idea to me. When you authorize the repair,
authorize fixing the clunk and not repairing a particular part. That way if
the first fix doesn't work you have a leg to stand on. So make sure the
repair order says fix the clunk.