Reverse issues

Some history first. 66cj5 225
When I first picked up the jeep the rear spring clips were busted up and completely loose as you could shake the body around quite a bit on the axles.
The rear u-bolts on the drive shaft were also loose and I was able to shake it around quite a bit. The cross member supporting the transfercase and trans t-14 and a twin stick is busted all to heck and the trans and tranfer case are bolted up with crude metal brackets to the original mounts which are quite worn. I already have a new crossmember which I will install when I am sure everything will fit. When first driven before realising about the rear axle and driveshaft ubolts the jeep would accelerate fine but would buck violently upon any deceleration. Installing new spring clips and driveshaft ubolts took care of the bucking. However it still has another issue in that when in reverse releasing the clutch with or without applying gas will cause the whole jeep to buck so violently as to make me believe the whole thing is coming apart. But I am able to accelerate and decelerate in all gears forward without any issues. I am able to just barely and slowly release the clutch and slowly (very slowly) reverse without bucking but any increase in speed results in violent shaking and bucking. I had to move the jeep from it's parking spot yesterday and was forced to back it up but there was a slight incline and i wasn't able to do slowly and tried to power through it and now the clutch seems to be sticking or hanging up a little at the point when it engages under power in forward gears. What the hell is wrong and what the hell did i do to make it worse

 

Probably something wrong with the reverse idler or the reverse gear where it is not staying engage. It sounds like me its slippin and then grabbing. I would take off the inspection cover and look inside.

 

could be but why only in reverse?

 

I had the exact same problem and a new clutch disc fixed it.

 

I thought broken mounts on engine and or tranny. Usually clutch chatter will happen wether in reverse or forward. Since the engine torques over in the opposite direction in reverse. Might be causing driveline angle issue if it's torqueing over enough. Not sure though. Good luck.

 

thanks guys, two weeks ago I had a garage and power tools and good lighting. Now i've got a street corner in a city known for gestapo like enforcement of it's parking rules. Once I find a place where I can start removing driveline components without the fear of being towed I'll start pulling stuff apart. I've got to replace the X member anyway so I might as well remove the t/c trans and clutch anyway. Also I haven't looked real hard at any 225 scematics but besides the rear shaft seal and the cylinders what other points towards the rear of the engine leak profusely under power?

 

Aside from the tranny and t-case, I found that if the rear seal leaks it will drip from your bellhousing.

This means that you're never sure which one it is because a drip from the bellhousing could be either the rear seal in the engine or it could be the front seal/bearing in the tranny.

I had the tranny re-built in mine thinking I wasn't going to have any leaks only to discover the same drip @ the bellhousing. The guy who rebuilt/installed the tranny said it was probably the rear seal in the engine.

I'm saying this because if you're going to rebuild the tranny and hope to stop leaks, you probably ought to eliminate the possible leak in the rear seal as well.

 

once it is apart, easier to fix ALL leaks then to constantly chase them down one at a time.

 

It is clutch chatter. You need to address the motor mounts and transfer case mounts. The one on the side of the TC is there to help keep things from torquing too far. What is going on is that in reverse you are causing the clutch to engauge farther than where your leg had it. Causing a "resonance" It ain't good on the driveline. Until you get things fixed up, I would suggest dropping the TC into LOW range, and then release the clutch fully when backing. That way you eliminate the chatter.
I just went thru a T14, they are good tranny's but parts are costly. Good luck!
-Hill

 

I know that it is an oil leak from the eng and that it is only under pressure and it is severe. I was on the freeway for a good clip and was loosing about a quart every 400mi which would spray back over the entire undercarage soaking everything. I know that i also have leaks from the tranny and t/c but not nearly as severe as the eng.

 

sounds like a power wash is in order. then locating leaks.

A quart every 400 mi is a BAD leak and should be dealt w/ASAP!