Driveshaft play?

[k-7222]

Hi there

So I purchased brand new 2016 srt viper first 3000 kms was fine
then i noticed that there is clunk in the driveline
it seems to appear when releasing the clutch when shiffting
also it is very noticeable when i take off my feet from the acceleration padel and putting it back
it go away when i shift very smoothly
is this normal viper stuff?? its feels like the driveshaft of somthing loosing down there.

[swexlin]

Good morning, and welcome. There is a little clunkiness with the T6060, and some driveline slop. However.....listen to your rear diff. Is there any whine, especially in a high gear at highway speeds? I ask, because mine did, and I also had some clunk, and after I received a new diff under warranty, no more.

I haven't heard of driveshaft issues with the Gen 5.

[k-7222]

Hi swelxin good to hear that new diff changed under warranty, the driveline slop still there??
its 50 celsius out here i dont blame my diff or driveshaft if they wants to quit from their jobs :t0140:
I didnt notice any whining sound .. just the clunkiness ..

[swexlin]

No, much of the clunk is gone. There is still a little slop, which is normal, but not like before.

[Angleiron]

Hi there

So I purchased brand new 2016 srt viper first 3000 kms was fine
then i noticed that there is clunk in the driveline
it seems to appear when releasing the clutch when shiffting
also it is very noticeable when i take off my feet from the acceleration padel and putting it back
it go away when i shift very smoothly
is this normal viper stuff?? its feels like the driveshaft of somthing loosing down there.

I have had this happen in my Gen IV if you do not have enough rpm's going when you shift. Can't say what the magic number is but for my car above 2200 rpm's and there is no clunking.

[Lokien]

I know what you're talking about, mine does the same.. I feel that its normal, will let you know if I manage to break something.

[k-7222]

I have had this happen in my Gen IV if you do not have enough rpm's going when you shift. Can't say what the magic number is but for my car above 2200 rpm's and there is no clunking.

Thank for sharing this

My Gen V does the same if i shift below rpm 2000~ the clunk is there but if i shift above 2000 it disappear but the problem when i shift at higher rpm once i press the clutch the rpm drops too much so i have to give it little acceleration to match the rev , like rev matching with down shifting but my viper do it in normal up shifting :D

[Dave1968]

Depending upon your resources I would do this. Take your belly pan off, because you need to get at the driveshaft, and put your tranny in neutral. If the back wheels are off the ground in doing this then put your emergency brake on. Now try and rotate your drive shaft back and forth. Is there any movement? Realistically there should be virtually no play either way - this is not a 1 ton pickup so the diff should be tight. A tiny bit would be OK, and I mean a TINY bit, but if it's clunking like you say I'll bet you have quite a bit. That would indicate a problem.

[sadil]

Not sure why you need to rev to upshift..smooth clutch and acceleration pedal work during shifts shouldn't have clunking.

[Malu59RT]

Not sure why you need to rev to upshift..smooth clutch and acceleration pedal work during shifts shouldn't have clunking.

When shifting slowly, the rpm drops too much and will clunk when you release the clutch. As my wife is very sensitive to jerky motions in the car, I've had to adapt my driving style for her comfort when she's in the car, and can relate to what he's saying. Keep the RPM's close to the point it should be for the next gear, or slip the clutch when engaging higher gears for passenger comfort. When I'm in the car by myself, it's a different scenario and I can shift fast enough to where it isn't an issue.

[One Viper Bite]

My rear diff failed on my 13 GTS and one of the symptoms was a ton of play in the rack and pinion between the drive shaft and the rear diff. If you are experiencing any whine from the rear diff at any point, decel, acceleration, cruising, coasting in neutral, etc. go get it checkout because it could be signs of the rear differential failing.

Don't wait like I did!

[Jack B]

It would nice to put a number on the play, in other words a new car is XX degees, a bad diff is XX+ Degrees.




Depending upon your resources I would do this. Take your belly pan off, because you need to get at the driveshaft, and put your tranny in neutral. If the back wheels are off the ground in doing this then put your emergency brake on. Now try and rotate your drive shaft back and forth. Is there any movement? Realistically there should be virtually no play either way - this is not a 1 ton pickup so the diff should be tight. A tiny bit would be OK, and I mean a TINY bit, but if it's clunking like you say I'll bet you have quite a bit. That would indicate a problem.

[Dave1968]

It would nice to put a number on the play, in other words a new car is XX degees, a bad diff is XX+ Degrees.

Degrees might be a little difficult. Let's try this. If you can rotate the shaft say 1/8" along the rotational direction, given that every diff is probably a little different, that would be OK. If it moves 1/4", 3/8" I wouldn't expect that much play in a new diff. and I wouldn't be satisfied with that much play - In a 1 ton yes, not a car. Mine has virtually no movement either way.

[k-7222]

*** update ****

slight diff whining noticed at 64 mph it seems that the driveshaft play associated with diff whining

[swexlin]

*** update ****

slight diff whining noticed at 64 mph it seems that the driveshaft play associated with diff whining

I would suggest that you take the car to a dealer with an experience Viper tech, and have him drive it. They can get you a new one under warranty.

[timberwolf]

I have the same issue. I've read in the archives that sometimes differential carrier bolts or tranny bolts can come loose and you get that minor clunk. Simply re-tightening has helped some. I'll have my car on a lift later this week and will report back. My whining differential is going to get replaced on a separate note. We tried replacing the fluid with some Castrol, but it was only a bandaid.

[swexlin]

I have the same issue. I've read in the archives that sometimes differential carrier bolts or tranny bolts can come loose and you get that minor clunk. Simply re-tightening has helped some. I'll have my car on a lift later this week and will report back. My whining differential is going to get replaced on a separate note. We tried replacing the fluid with some Castrol, but it was only a bandaid.

My guess is when you get the new diff, some of the clunk will go away. Mine did.

[timberwolf]

My guess is when you get the new diff, some of the clunk will go away. Mine did.
Fingers crossed!