I have an 85 245.

My issue is now a clunk.

Here is a quick synopsis.

I replaced 8 of the 10 bushings. The only bushings I didn't replace (as of now) is the front bushings in the trailing arms. (Or a better way of saying it, I replaced the ones on the axle, but not the other ones).

I don't think it's my shocks or U-joints, but I'm open to them being the issue. I am going to check the whole under carriage of the car this weekend.

Here is the clunking circumstances. When I'm driving, there's always been a rattle, or like a rumble (I'm having a hard time figuring out how to describe the noise. It's not like a rumble like an exhaust sound, but more of a rattle? or maybe a dull bump).

When I start off from a dead stop, and shift into 1st, it clunks. It mostly does it only going from a dead stop to first, and not so much from any other gears.

It doesn't feel like a rotating clunk, in that there's no torque feel to it. It's a front to back clunk. That is why I don't think it's a U-joint issue.

Sorry for lack of a better description.

Before I changed my bushings, and tightened a few bolts in the rear, the clunks were similar. And when I finished with the 8 of 10 bushings replaced, the clunks all but went away. I replaced the last bushing last June.

Like I said earlier, I'm going to put the car up on jack stands this Friday or Saturday, and fix an OD leak issue I've put off for almost a year. I'm going to check all sorts of things on the body/driveline to see what needs to be fixed/replaced/tightened.

I'm just wondering what are some obvious places to look (outside of U-joints and bushings).

Thanks.