Jon Steiger wrote:
>
> Heh heh heh! Wow, you sure know how to get a guy's attention! You go
> off on an offroading trip, and then the first thing I see when you get back
> is "can the tranny move?" :-)
:-) Yeah, I wanted a subject line that would get attention, and not
fade into background noise.
> Also, if the tranny actually did move, I would *guess* that it was due
> to something pushing up on it from underneath, so perhaps a rock got under
> the tailshaft or on the driveshaft and actually pushed the rear end of the
> tranny up, which would angle your stick forward slightly. You might want
> to check the mounting points at the rear of the tranny and the general
> condition of the tranny, driveshaft, and mounts in that area.
I did that in the parking lot when we stopped for dinner after the
trail. Everything looked okay, but I guess I didn't look closely
enough. Yesterday after I posted my first message, I got back under
there with a light and I think I've found it.
The crossmember that supports the tranny looks like it took a rock hit.
The dent is on the front of the right side of the crossmember, not near
where the tranny sits. But probably the impact was enough to cause the
effect I'm seeing. (This is the same crossmember that the middle skid
plate bolts to in front.)
I looked all around where the tranny meets the engine to make sure
everything there looked good. As far as I can see, everything is like
it's supposed to be.
One thing I'm not sure of. The surface of the crossmember where the
tranny bolts to it: is it supposed to be parallel to the ground? Or is
it supposed to be angled slightly so that the two front bolts are higher
than the two in the rear (like mine is)? It's a rubber mounting, so I
don't think it's critical (is it?).
Anyway, I'm thinking it's not something I should spend too much time
worrying about, for a few reasons.
First, I drove it all the way home on Saturday, and everything was fine.
Second, the guy who mounted my tow hooks also has a '95 Dakota. I took
a look under his to see if he had a skid plate, to see if I could figure
out how it went on there. Not only does he not have a skid plate, but
this crossmember is really twisted up on his truck. He couldn't add a
skid plate if he wanted to.
Third, I don't think there's much I'm going to be able to do about it
anyway, short of taking it to a shop that does frame straightening.
I am wondering if I should take it to a reputable tranny shop or
something, to have them inspect it to make sure it's still mounted to
the engine okay. I'm sure not asking the dealer to look at it. Knowing
them, they'll probably tell me I've totaled the truck, and they can't
let me have it back because it's unsafe. They get really uptight about
anything that's a millimeter out of factory spec.
---------------------------------------------------------
Jason Bleazard http://www.bleazard.net Toronto, Ontario
his: '95 Dakota Sport 4x4, 239 V6, 5spd, Reg. Cab, white
hers: '98 Dakota Sport 4x4, 318 V8, Auto, Club Cab, black
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