No matter how smooth I let the clutch out first gear shakes, kinda hard sometimes! It's only first though. U joints? I tried to move the drive shaft at the u joints when the truck was parked and left in gear and there was no movement. When I leave it in neutral it moves. Not sure what's wrong, any help would be great!

PS, whats it take to clean up the slop in the steering wheel?

 

Cant help you on the shakiness but here... There is a whole thread we just got done with about loose steering.


https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...-steering.html

 

A weak pressure plate can cause a shuddering, only happens in first gear taking off and sometimes effecting reverse. Sometimes if reverse is low geared enough its not effected as bad if at all.

 

A partially seized U-joint will cause this and won't be obviously loose. It's worth the effort to unbolt it and take it out for a closer inspection, just put a chalk mark on the shaft and axle yoke so it goes back in the exact same orientation.

 

So I guess it'd be cheapest to see if it is the U joints first? There are 2 right? I'll use a Haynes manual to guide me so any pointers and tips would be great! Thanks,
Noah

 

I have an old truck that I've owned for a number of years ! It used to be my daily driver but it got to where the engine didn't run very well and it had a terrible amount of chattering when you tried to pull out no matter how easy you tried to do so . I always figured it was the clutch or flywheel causing it . As time went on , it was relegated to the garage and I drove my car everyday. About two years ago , I thought it was time to revive that old truck . I bought a V8 to replace the old tired 6 cylinder . When I pulled it out , I was surprised to find the actual cause of the chattering ! The bell housing was missing two bolts and the rest were loose ! When the new engine went back in , with the correct amount of bolts tightened to the proper torque , the chattering was gone ! My be worth checking your bell housing just to be sure !

 

my truck does this too, it feels like its coming from the rear end, so my guess was the u-joits. i ordered two new ones, havent got a chance to replace them yet... also, when i'm stopped at a light and go to take off, it feels like the drevveshaft spins a bit first, then it clicks on and taks off... it feels like a THUD and i dunno what's causing it... is my rear-end on the way out or what?