I have a 2013 Mustang GT, 6 speed manual with 700 miles on it. I've noticed a clack/clunk when shifting 1-2, 2-3, and sometimes 3-4 or when under heavy load. The only way to avoid it is to let off the clutch very slowly with a lot of slip...and even then it still makes a slightly noticeable clack. Not sure if its coming from the clutch or backlash in the rear end. Is this normal build quality or should I take it to the dealer for a warranty claim? Thanks guys!

 

Warranty.
Pronto.

 

Repair under warranty ASAP.

 

Of course, Ford will tell you "it's normal".

 

Okay...but why pronto and ASAP? I was thinking sometime this week or next...

 

Certainly have the dealership check it out to find out if it is something abnormal.

But to be honest (and without hearing it),my gut is telling me it's the slop in the driveshaft, the factory driveshafts are pretty sloppy, an aftermaket 1-piece cleans up a lot of clunking between gear shifts.

 

Pronto or ASAP means in the next couple of weeks. danzcool is right on with the fact that we have to deal with a 2 piece factory drive shaft with a carrier bearing for crying out loud. That will give you a clunking noise that is right under you. I have it, but I know what it is and am just dealing with it for now. The problem here is that we cannot hear what is actually going on. You may have a problem or not. Hard to tell. Nuke is also right in the fact that Ford a lot of times will tell you that it is normal drive line noise. My first thought is to go drive another one and see if it has the same noise. If not, then do not be bullied and make them fix it.

 

I bet its the driveshaft. I'm going to get under the car and twist it while in gear and see if it makes the noise.

I also get a clack when in neutral and I press up and down n the clutch. It can be heard from inside the vehicle. I've owned manual transmission cars before and never heard clutch noise while depressing. I know its the clutch and flywheel smacking, but should it be this loud?

I will take the car in this week.

 

The 2 piece drive shaft is clunky, the rear end and drive shaft together are clunky because of the soft rubber bushings. By adding a 1 piece drive shaft and replacing everything on the rear end with poly bushings and spohn del-sphere joints, I have finally eliminate all my clunking. The last piece I replaced was the rubber bushing on top of the differential housing and it was a big part of the problem. the rubber bushing allows the pinion to move to much, imo.

There will always be some slop in the rear differential/gears, it's by design.

 

Replacing the bushing on the diff must have been tough. Did you have to drop the rear to get it out or can it be done from under the car? I get this rubber banding effect if I load the drive train and quickly unload it. Like doing a quick burnout or launch and then shutting it down. The whole drive train goes chug a chug a chug a. I hate it!