AboutCarl Brandt Expertise Will discuss suspensions, lifts, lockers along with tire suggestions. Trail ratings and possible requirements needed for specific type of trails. Safety equipment and what you should carry with you. Certified off-road instructor.
I am not a mechanic, and 4-Wheeling is a hobby, so if I can't answer a technical question it is due to my mechanical knowledge being related to vehicles that I have owned, or have worked on. I do not have manuals on all vehicles.
Experience Experience in the area 40 plus years of 4 wheeling in a variety of vehicles. At the present time, my major off-road rig is a 94 Jeep Wrangler with a spring over and a 3 1/2" suspension lift. This gives me a total lift of 9" or so. I have lockers front and rear. I have removed the track bars, and sway bar for maximum articulation. I am running a stock 2.5 ltr 4 cylinder with a Jacobs ignition along with a K&N air filter. It has 4.56:1 gears with a Dodge NV4500 transmission along with a 3.8:1 Atlas II transfer case. This gives me a final ratio of 95:1 in low gear/low range.
Other vehicles I own, are a 95 Ford F-250 with a 6" lift, posi rear end, 35" MT's, 5 speed with a fuel injected 460 ci engine, and a stock 2000 Grand Cherokee.
Trails I have run are the Rubicon (10 times), Dusey Ershim, Fordyce Creek trail, McGrew trail, several trails in Moab, Utah along with local monthly runs.
Organizations I belong to
President of Lost Coast 4x4's (8 years)
http://lostcoast4x4.org
Blue Ribbon Association
United Four Wheel Drive
Corva
Cal 4 Wheel
Expert: Carl Brandt Date: 10/7/2007 Subject: 1999 Chevy Truck
Question When my trucks shifts from 1st to 2nd gear it jerks. I have had the transmission serviced like I am supposed to. What could this be? How can I tell if it is the drive line or universal joint?
Answer Elaine,
I don't know how many miles you have on the truck, but you may need to have a shift kit installed for smoother shifting. I am assuming that you have an automatic transmission.
As far as the drive line goes, the universal joint is the part of the drive line that fails. You can crawl under the truck, and wiggle/turn the drive line by hand and see if there appears to be some play in it. There should be little or no movement in the drive line if the universal joints are good.
It wouldn't hurt to take the truck to a reputable transmission shop and have them check out the transmission and the universal joints.
