'86 240 DL. when I come to a stop while city driving, something rattles under the middle of the car. I think it's the drive shaft. The tranny leaks - big surprise on a 33 year old car - so the oil seal is worn and I believe there is a centering bushing at the end of the tranny. Can these be simply pulled out the back of the tranny and new ones pushed in to place?

A couple years ago I noticed some similar rattling and raised the car on jacks and ran the engine, engaging and breaking the wheels. I saw that the torque rods - two rods that stabilize the rear axle, had thick worn out bushings and replaced them. So . . . it's not that. Anything else it could be?hx.

 

There is the tailshaft bushing in the rear of the transmission that if worn causes the rear seal to fail resulting in a leak. You can replace this bushing and seal without removing the transmission. If you have a special tool, apparently you can do it without removing the tailshaft housing. Without the special tool, you would need to remove the tailshaft housing and press the bushing out.

Take a look at this link:

https://www.brickboard.com/FAQ/700-9..._Shaft_Bushing

 

Perfect. Thanks for the pretty exhaustive link.

 

Before changing your tailshaft bushing, I would get under the car and check the heat shields attached to the exhaust before the catalytic converter. They get loose and rattle when the car is at idle speed. Wood screws driven into the gap between the pipe and the sheet metal will tighten them up. Also check your center driveshaft bushing; they can rattle at idle also when the rubber breaks down. .