1996 Ranger 4x4 4.0 5sp making strange metallic crinkling noise

[Miket1959]

My Ranger makes a weird metallic crinkling noise when in 4 wheel drive. While moving slowly it sounds like sheet metal is crinkling up. I've looked under at the front end area but don't see anything. It does it every time you go to move. Cant figure it out. Anyone have any idea where to look. It drives fine with no noise in 2 wd

 

[scotts90ranger]

One of your front U joints has rust where grease should be and probably has metal shards where rollers should be , BTDT...

 

[Curious Hound]

Yeah. Front u-joints are a likely suspect. Also make sure no debris is stuck anywhere rubbing on drive shafts.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Best way is to jack up the front and get the front tires off the ground in 2wd, then try spinning the driveshaft and axle shafts by hand and checking for side to side play. Also inspect around if you hear noise from somewhere else

 

[scotts90ranger]

yeah, that, jack up the front to make it easier to turn the wheels, with the wheels turned turn the front driveshaft and see which side doesn't turn then go turn that U joint and see if it's crunchy, could be the middle one too... but like said, make sure there's nothing jammed up in the window that the passenger side shaft goes through the front of the beam...

 

[Curious Hound]

yeah, that, jack up the front to make it easier to turn the wheels, with the wheels turned turn the front driveshaft and see which side doesn't turn then go turn that U joint and see if it's crunchy, could be the middle one too... but like said, make sure there's nothing jammed up in the window that the passenger side shaft goes through the front of the beam...

I think his truck is too new for TTB. Less chance of stuck debris. But could still be something out by the control arms.

 

[scotts90ranger]

I think his truck is too new for TTB. Less chance of stuck debris. But could still be something out by the control arms.

If it's the '96 in their profile then it's not.

 

[Curious Hound]

If it's the '96 in their profile then it's not.

I get mixed up on exactly what year that changed.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Fair, '97 was the last year of TTB/TIB

 

[SenorNoob]

98 with the new body style. Makes it easy to remember...

 

[Curious Hound]

98 with the new body style. Makes it easy to remember...

Yeah. But the PCM architecture and wiring all changed to OBD II in 95. So that’s what messes me up. Some things happened earlier than the generation change.