Universal joint

I'm assuming my universal joint is on its way out sooner or later.The car is an atuomatic.When I'm driving the gears are kicking in hard and when coming to a stoplight the car shifts down with a little kick.Almost like someone is giving me a bunper tap.Sound like the problem??And also what ujoint should I get--a packed one or unpacked.And is it a easy job to fix?

Not that big a job to do really.
I prefer the stronger ujoints that come prepacked with synthetic grease. Others like the greaseable ones. Both work. It somewhat depends on how hard you drive the car and if you will remember to grease the greaseable joints.

While you have the drive shaft out I would recomend you do a couple of things. First change the seal at the tailshaft of the transmission where the drive shaft slips in. It is easy and cheap to do and I would be suprised if it is not worn already.
Second thing is to check the yoke at the diff for slop. Pull on it and push it in too. Looking for movement here. When you turn the shaft there will be a little play. How much depends on how worn the gears are. There should be little to none as far as play when you push and pull on the yoke. If the pinion bearing is bad you will get some movement. That can also make the noise you desribed.
At the worst you have nothing to loose by putting in a fresh set of ujoints. Wouldn't hurt to have a look around at other things in the area while you are down there. Look at the tranny mount and your rear brake hose. You would be suprised what you can find when you do that!
Wes

Its not hard to do. You unbolt the driveshaft from the differential let that end drop then shide it out of the tranny carefully. I like to mark everything before pulling apart in case balance may be affected. You remove the clips holding the joint in the yolks with needle nose or whatever works then press the joint out. You have to work your way around pushing one way to press the oposite side cap out. Many part places will loan a tool for this, even the autozone ball joint press will work. The other method is using a vise with a big throat and a couple sockets one big enough to recieve the cap while the other socket is used to push as you tighten the vise. Its actually pretty easy when you do it.

I hope its only a U-Joint. But I don't know from your description it sounds like it could be more. I wouldn't think a u joint would give you a kick on the down shift. I have had meny a u joint go bad for different reasons. Your description doesn't match any of my expereiances. When you put it into gear do you hear a nock or a clang?

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88 TC X 2 One stock one not so stock.

Yeah When I put it in drive I get a clang.I can definatly hear it go into gear.The kick I'm talking about is when I'm doing 35mph and slow down for a stop the autotrans goes into a lower gear and then I get a kick a second later.

usually a bad u-joint bang if accelerating or lettinng off gas quickly. you can check them for play by moving or trying to move them if needed take the driveshaft down any play or bad bearings should be very evident if you move it with the shaft off the car. other things maybe a bad mount like tranny or motor maybe a trans crossmember end bushing maybe even a bad control arm bushing in rear.
Have you checked the tranny fluid? maybe its old or the filter is clogged. you can if nothing else seems to apply try some mechanic in can to soften up shifts...this can be a band=aid for a tranny on the way out at best.

Ok I think U-Joints too. Easy fix.

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88 TC X 2 One stock one not so stock.