torque arm problem or not?

**DADillac** · 04-07-2008, 07:38 PM

ever since i got my camaro it seems if i floor or even hit the gas mildly hard i can kinda hear/feel flexing or popping coming from the under the car.
i assume this is the torque arm, or suspension flexing, but i dont know anyone else with a fbody so i dont know if this sound/feel is normal or not.*
about 6 months ago it got really thumpy and loud and after inspection the torque arm bolts were lose on the trans, i tightened them up good and havent had any problem since. but i still feel it everytime i get on it hard.

*now if i need a new torque arm, what brand will fit with my pacesetter long tubes?

**0rion** · 04-07-2008, 10:28 PM

if you're sure it's not the exhaust thumping the floorboard ( very common) I would look at the tranny mount next (also very common).

**Blownone94** · 04-07-2008, 11:10 PM

the trans mount will cause a bang like someone is kickin your floor board when you hit it hard and are very common.You may also see a wear mark where the u-joint is hitting the floor board. try pushing up or jacking up on tail shaft of your trans and see if the mount has seperated. The mount is cheap and easy to install.

**vetteemt** · 04-08-2008, 03:57 AM

Do you still have the stock torque arm? Also Its been known for headers to thump the floor boards sometimes as well.

**Spaz** · 04-08-2008, 08:10 AM

are you sure it isn't wheel hop? also if it was your TQ arm you might have done what i did and split it in half where it bolts to the rear...

**DADillac** · 04-08-2008, 12:06 PM

it does feel like someone is kicking the floorboard. i have checked and the torque arm is not broke and niether are any of the mounts. ill check that tranny mount when it stops raining!! ill just have to go under there in try and move everything around see if anything is loose.

**Mr. Luos** · 04-08-2008, 12:14 PM

It isn't the torque arm.

Check what 0rion said. Tranny mount or exhaust.

**DADillac** · 04-08-2008, 04:00 PM

the tranny mount for the tranny to cross member? or yoiu mean the tranny to torque arm mount?

**0rion** · 04-08-2008, 07:02 PM

where it sits on the cross member, I bet that's broken.

**DADillac** · 04-08-2008, 07:07 PM

ill have to check it out tomorrow, any pointers on how to check it out? just tryt and move the trany on the mount?

**Blownone94** · 04-08-2008, 10:09 PM

put a jack under the trans and lightly jack up on it don't crush anything the mount will seperate if its bad

**DADillac** · 04-17-2008, 08:14 AM

well i did that today, the rubber mount does not separate, it stretches out, i dont wanna jack it up to high a break it. but it seems to be attached.

**jeffstaples** · 04-17-2008, 09:05 AM

Based on what you have checked and what has been suggested, take a look at where your exhaust is routing under your driver's side.

I am guessing that with the Pacesetters, you have a Y pipe. Regardless of the exhaust setup, see how much clearance you have between the exhaust and the floorboard under the driver's side seat area. This is where the stock exhaust Y pipe was flattened a bit to gain clearance.

If you can, adjust your exhaust to sit 1/8 to 1/4" lower in that area and see if that resolves your thumping when you accelerate aggressively. If that does not, try a bit more lowering of the exhaust or you may want to see if you can place a "bump stop/cushion" between the exhaust and floorboard in that area to cushion what I suspect is the exhaust thumping/slapping against the floorboard when you accelerate hard.

Jeff

**DADillac** · 04-17-2008, 04:32 PM

it looks like there is a good 3/4 inch between the pipes and the floor all the way back, does the exhaust actually flex more than that?

**0rion** · 04-17-2008, 05:38 PM

the most common place for it to hit is right under the driver. If you have that much it shouldn't be hitting unless a motor mount is bad but I doubt that. If you wanted to test it a simple way would be to wedge a piece of rubber hose ( like heater hose) between the Y-pipe and floorboard on the drivers side. If it goes away then you know that's your problem.

**jeffstaples** · 04-17-2008, 05:45 PM

I have the FLP LTs and the FLP Cats/Y pipe on my car and I have right at 1 inch of clearance between the Cats/Y pipe and the floorboard from the cat to the Y intersection. I have had the exhaust closer before and I had the same issue you are describing. So I am guessing that when hitting it hard, my exhaust can move 3/4" or more. I have the stock rubber motor mounts as well.

Jeff