Okay, I have to make a trip to Lubbock and back on Sunday, and I'm really worried about a problem that just started a few days ago.

When I put it in reverse and back out of my parking space/driveway, I shift through Neutral, then to Drive. Occasionally (not always) as I depress the accelerator there'* a fairly loud popping sound that seems to be coming from the driver'* side somewhere. I can feel it in the pedal.

Any ideas whatsoever? If I can get it fixed before Sunday I would feel a whole lot safer... Thanks!

No ideas?! :(

That could be a motor mount.

Do you know how to test for a bad mount?

I was thinking that too, but I know what a motor mount sounds like when its bad... When I bought the car, the motor mount just behind the grill near the driver'* side (closest to the radiator) was bad. I replaced that not more than 1.5 years ago. I just had the engine mount closer to the firewall replaced not more than 3 months ago.

How many mounts are there, and how can I go about checking?

(Thanks Boost...)

Technically..there are 4

Dog bone under the transmission on the passenger side
Torque axis right in front of the water pump
Front transmission (the first you replaced)
Rear transmission (the one you just replaced)

Ok.. How about this..and I'm stretching a little. There is a lttle play in brake pads if you don't use goop to hold them to the caliper. I get a little movement and a thunk once in a while as mine shifts from front to back. Only a noise though..no real feeling in the car.

This could also be a strut mount if you are turning or shifting the weight of the car as in the forward/reverse movement.

As far as I can tell, the brakes don't appear to be the issue, how would you recommend checking the strut mount? Isn't that the giant black circles just above the front wheel wells under the hood?

Well, today I found out that the passenger front tire was all tore up on the inside... apparently the wheel was toed-in slightly. One new tire and alignment later, no more popping sound. Very odd indeed. However, I now get the squeak from the front passenger wheel ALL the time. I'm gonna try re-greasing the tie rod nipple (the grease boot is shot to hell) and see if it goes away. Heck, I may just re-grease everything! lol

Crap, the popping sound is definitely still there, and while not every time, its starting to happen more occasionally...

I'll reverse the car, back out, then shift gears... nothing... when I start to pull forward POP! Sounds like its coming from right at the driver front wheel. The strut mount has been replaced, all nuts, bolts, etc are tightened to the proper torque... Again, it'* not a "boom", just a pop, but its strong enough that I can feel the pop in my left foot resting on the floor.

I've run out of ideas...

I have thought before that maybe a brake pad sliding could be a contributor. Here'* the theory.. it could be an outter pad on the front brakes. Put into place w/o anti squeak goop on the back of the pad. This goop adheres the pad to the caliper (87-99 only) and holds it in place. If you don't use goop..there is a bit of slop where the pad is held in by the two large holes in the caliper. It could be that your pad is moving 1/4" when you change gears.

I'll check those brakes a little more carefully then. Thanks Boost.