1993 Dodge Caravan Vibration and minor grinding in Drive on

BART8516

MEMBER
1993 DODGE CARAVAN

Transmission problem
1993 Dodge Caravan 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

My wife's 93 Grand Caravan broke the drivers side axle yesterday and although I was able to replace it the van still has a vibration when I put it into drive but not in reverse. I did look at the motor when it was put into drive and reverse and I found little to no movement in reverse but that the engine lifted up about 2 inches on the passenger side when it was put into drive. Does this mean that the tranny mount is broken?
There is also some minor grinding coming from what appears to be the passenger side of the vehicle in drive, but little or no noise in reverse. Could this be the passenger side axle or is it the tranny mount that is causing this issue as well?

3 Replies

CH112063

MECHANIC
1,320 POSTS

It may be the mount but it could be gone because of what broke the axle. Try(it's not to easy) getting the front wheels off the ground and listen using a long piece of steel or a long screwdriver at the differentialm cover, or remove it(fun job) but look inside for trouble with the side gears or housing which has bearings that wear, so bad it snaps axle after axle. If you grab the inner shafts, they should tell you whether the bushings are ok also. I got the feeling the trouble is in the final drive. Thanks and let me know, it could be in the transaxle also, but I doubt it. As the diff. Area goes, it's common for it to eat axles until the source is found. Work carefully, take your time, it's old.

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Friday, April 16th, 2010 AT 2:40 PM

BART8516

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2 POSTS

Are you saying that the tranny sounds as if it is bad? I am hoping that this is not what you are saying and that there is something else I need to look at first.

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Friday, April 16th, 2010 AT 3:05 PM

CH112063

MECHANIC
1,320 POSTS

No, I am just wanting to find out if the mount failed, lifted the powertrain and caused the axle problem, or the differential or transaxle caused the mount to fail. If your hearing noises, and at a stand still, it's not the differential of the trans, if its only while your moving it happens that it could be that area. Maybe it is just a bad mount. It will cause noise to transfer inside, if the trans is bad, you'll find out at a later time, I do hope not. I have my fingers crossed you just have a bad mount, thanks for answering my post and good luck.

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Friday, April 16th, 2010 AT 3:16 PM