markcp

thanks everyone for the help. i am considering a second opinion but honestly i am not real confident in driving it right now as it sounds really bad and i don't want to find myself stranded half way to a different shop. i will have to weigh the option on doing it or not, i sure would like to have smart service give it a look tho. i would hate to spend over $500 for the transmission swap to only find out it was something else. i will feel around in there tonight and try to make a call on it. i am working with Andy's on 80th and aurora and have had pretty good luck with him. anyone else know of andy? he said they went over the CV joints, etc and all were fine. i have had a torn boot on one side for a couple of years. that is what i assumed it was originally. mark

i have a 91 loyale wagon, 4wd, manual that i have had for 13 years. love this car!!! it recently started making a very loud noise (i would call it banging or rattling) when accelerating. anytime the throttle is applied it makes this noise and it gets louder with speed and in the higher gears (guess these two go together). it does not make the noise unless you are accelerating, when coasting there is no noise. took it to my favorite local mechanic and he said it is the front differential which he said means a front transmission replacement at a cost of $340 for just labor. my questions are: - does this sound correct on the diagnosis and the fix? - the price seems fair to me, does it to others? - the clutch has 80k miles on it, should i do it again as long as he is in there? - i can find a number of used ones in the area for around $200-$250. thanks in advance for any help you can offer!! -mark