After six weeks of driving, I finally have my first sound theory as to what could be causing this issue. I was getting a real bad shaking in reverse. No metal on metal grinding noises. Just violent shaking. I called a transmission place thinking it could be a gear and the guy told me on the phone after I explained my symptoms that it sounded like a mount. Now that I have thought about it for a while, I realized that when the guy replaced my front tires, he pulled a block of would out from between the crossmember and the transmission. I think I am going to take a real close look at this area as well as all my motor mounts to see if that could be the problem. Anybody got any advice?

 

A block of wood? Now, that sounds like some real southern engineering? Maybe you have the wrong tranny mount on there.

 

I was getting some nasty clunking and vibration in reverse a while ago too. Lucky for me, I didn't find a good ol' chunk of southern pine 2x4 in there like you did. The tranny mount was missing 1 of the studs that come down from the top so I only had one holding it in and the rotation in reverse was making that side lift up. I replaced the mount for $35, nothing but smooth sailing now. I also had to get a tranny jack adaptor plate for my floor jack for about $30.

Big Nate

 

In reverse I just get that good ol' 4-speed t-10 low pitch whine noise. No vib though.

 

Nope, not the tranny mount. i am really getting pissed here.

 

Ok so this is right out of my Haynes book. I can't believe I never noticed this before.

Clutch Judder is a self evident condition which occurs when the transmission or engine mountings are loose or too flexible, when there is oil on the face of the clutch friction plate, or when the clutch pressure plate has been incorrectly adjusted.

The reason for clutch judder is due to one of the faults just listed, the clutch pressure plate is not freeing smoothly from the friction disc and is snatching.

Clutch judder normally occurs when the clutch pedal is released in first or reverse gears, and the whole car shudders as it moves forward or backward.

Well that sounds pretty much like my problem so I am going to replace motor mounts and work from there. Wish me luck.

 

Good luck! If that doesn't fix it, then put that pine back in to take up the slack.

 

It also can do that due to the plate being warped. As for poor friction... the other day, The edge of the clutch housing tore the hose exiting the thermostat when I was putting the transaxle back in the Focus, and in went all the fluid from the overfill box. the transaxle/housing was at such a position that if it was able to have been tilted toward the block an inch or two, the plate and inside of the housing wouldn't have received an eager bukkake from the steadily spewing hose. Shortly after, I finally was able to tilt it, and out poured a frustrating amount of fluid. haven't drove it yet, had an issue with a driveaxle that may also be the cause of the shuddering.