Whenever I try to put the car in first gear or reverse I shakes violenty. For example I put in first gear with the clutch disengaged everything is fine. As soon as I start to engage the clutch it feels like real bad wheel hop. This only happens in first and reverse every other gear is ok and only when I try to engage the clutch. Is trany bad or something simple with the clutch. Please anyone with a clue help me out.

Originally posted by TheGhost
Whenever I try to put the car in first gear or reverse I shakes violenty. For example I put in first gear with the clutch disengaged everything is fine. As soon as I start to engage the clutch it feels like real bad wheel hop. This only happens in first and reverse every other gear is ok and only when I try to engage the clutch. Is trany bad or something simple with the clutch. Please anyone with a clue help me out.

Could be a motor mount.

if not that what else could i be

Originally posted by TheGhost
if not that what else could i be

Out of round flywheel, out of round pressure plate, piece broken off the clutch disc, bolts loosening up on the flywheel, bolts loosening up on the pressure plate, throw out bearing cockeyed, cv cage cracked, spline housing stripped, differential gears slipping, blown out stuts, broken strut springs, cracked bellhousing, bolts loose or missing on the tranny to engine connection, (1st and reverse aren't associated other than the output shaft gear so I would be surprised if it was anything in the tranny), broken bottom engine crosspiece, broken bolts on the cross piece, lots of loose lug nuts, etc.

Kind of tongue in cheek answer. Kind of not. Basically it could be a lot of things that are associated with either clutch engagement, the engine shifting or the front end being "loose". I've got a strong suspicion that it is motor mounts just because it happens only from a standstill. That's when you get most of your engine torque movement. If not that, the next thing I would take a look at is the front suspension. Do you get big bangs on the bumps etc.?

Chances are, most of the choices that I listed are not it. Start with the motor mounts and work from there.

I dont think its the front end I just replaced all springs and shocks wit tokico's. It could be motor mount or clutch but I replaced clutch wit autozone stock replacement a couple months ago. I will replace the clutch anyway next week to be safe wit a pt cruiser one and in that process be able to look at anything that could be wrong. I want to get the motor mount inserts but do not know what or how they work or are installed could you out wit that bit off info.