Bad Front Axle Ujoint?

[midtnranger]

I have a clunking and grinding sound coming from my front passenger wheel when I put my ranger in 4wd. After reading up on it on here, I am pretty sure I have a bad ujoint. I just bought the ranger and am pretty sure they have never been changed. Am I correct in my assumption of a bad ujoint? I have manual hubs, I locked them with out the 4wd and still got the sound. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[t0x1k]

Yes, since you'll be pulling the axles, pull the pig and do the c clip eliminator. You gotta remove it to pull the one axle to replace the u joint.
Might as well replace your wheel bearings and spindle bearing.

Check them first, unlock your hubs and turn the axle by hand, feel the joint as it turns, feeling for grinding and popping. Try moving it, there should be little play, only play should be from the slip yoke.

 

[The_One]

HUGE 4wd Problem

I'm having the same problem. I have an 89 Ranger and manual warn hubs, the hubs are good, and i JUST replaced the driverside Ujoint, STILL having a knocking noise, i've had a friend check and it's actually the ears of the U hitting the end of the bolt holding the bottom of the knuckle (hub?), u can see it just below the u (driverside). I pretty much do all my own work, but for some reason i noticed a LOT of play in the shaft as it comes out of the spindle. It seems like there is too much play when i put the snap ring on the shaft (i'm talking up/down/left/right, not in/out), so much so that the u actually moves around a good 1/4", any suggestions on what is cheaper to replace, spindle/drive shaft/bearings??????

seriouslyfrustratedwrenchmonkey