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90 Caravan jerking only when accelerating

My Caravan has now been doing this since Aug 2004 and I'm sure it will quit on me anytime. The first thing you think of when this jerking starts is that the front end is badly out of alignment or a wheel is loose. Not so. When I start off, I can hear loud popping from the front, especially when accelerating and turning at the same time and there is a violent jerking when accelerating. As soon as I let off the gas, it stops. It will level out fairly well when getting up to highway speed. And actually, the jerking has subsided some over the last few months, but that's probably not a good thing. One mechanic told me it was the torque converter. Since it's front wheel drive, my thought is that it's probably the half-axles/CV boots. The van has 215,000 miles and surely they are about gone by now. Any thoughts on this? And if it's the CV boots, does anyone know what a going rate for replacement for both boots would be? I'm sure repair at a Chrysler dealership would be very high and I'd prefer to use an independent shop.

Reply to
videoaddict1
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I would say it the cv-joint. i replace my half shaft and its easy. It cost me $60 on ebay to buy and put it myself. good luck

Reply to
pchotspot

I can do lots of things but that would be one job I wouldn't want to tackle. The parts aren't that high at local parts stores and unlike ebay, you can return them.

Reply to
videoaddict1

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Check the eng. and trans mounts.

could be CV joints, but "most likely" cause is motor mounts the way you described the symptom.

Put wife in car, put foot on brake, put car in gear, give it some gas while you look to see if the motor is lifting up excessively. You may even hear a "knock" as the mounts lift up. They are known to get bad enough to appear as if the eng. is coming out the car when tested like this. Just hold the brakes and goose the gas pedal a couple of times. Do it in Drive and then do it in Revearse to check both rear and front mounts.

like I said, could be the cv joints, but the symptom sounds like mounts.

~:~ Marsh Monster ~:~

Reply to
MarshMonster

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