Milano Driveline Rattle

[David Tallerico <dwt@domain.elided>]

this is my 3rd V6 transaxle car, so i'm accustomed to the usual transaxle
rattle associated w/ these cars and am generally unconcerned by it.
lately, mine has become much worse:

1) only heard at idle, when it is quite loud, and disappears when revs are
raised to 1500. clutch in/out makes no difference.

2) from under car, noise appears to come from front of driveline, near
driveshaft-engine coupling.  my recollection is that the noise usually
comes from the transaxle end of the shaft.

this car, in spite of recent replacement of driveshaft, couplings and
center support bearing, has always had too much slop in the driveline.
and, as reported by another digest poster recently, it will produce a
metal-against-metal grinding sound under hard acceleration (or decel),
akin to the ratcheting sound heard when pulling up on a parking brake
lever (didn't see any replies to the earlier query).

any thoughts?

David Tallerico

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