Binding

[92rangnick]

we had our first bad snow in wisconsin and i used my 4wd and every mile or so id here a loud bang/clank i was told it was probably binding though i was going straight and there was around 4-5inches of wet wet snow can anyone one help thankyou

 

[fourwheelford]

Possible bad u-joint or maybe the double cardon joint in the front driveshaft is binding and popping. Have you checked your fluid levels in your front diff or transfer case? Maybe you had a leakyou didn't know about.

 

[DriverSideImpact]

Not to thread jack, but i have a similar issue. This happened to me today also (first snow in SE WI)...mine was mainly while turning (a little when driving straight): clunking, hopping, other horrible noises. Am I right in assuming U-joints are the cause? It only happens when the hubs are locked in, with or without 4x4 engaged.

 

[fourwheelford]

To driversideimpact, I don't know much about this stuff but if your turning or driving on dry surfaces its gonna do that but thats about all I know im new to this stuff too.

 

[Lrpalo]

Driverside..... I would check your steering knuckle u joints as well as the center joint. If one is bad change them all because they are all prob on their last legs

 

[DriverSideImpact]

Center joint?

 

[Lrpalo]

yes center u joint. The TTB front axles have 3 u joints. One at each en and one in the center. Since the differential is in the driver side axle beam there need to be a u joint in the middle of the passenger side axle shaft to allow for the flex.You can not see it from the front of the truck but if you look from the back side of the axle you will be able to see it. It is the same size as the outer ones. The manuals tell you to drop the 3rd member to replace the u joint but it can be done with a ball joint tool

 

[92rangnick]

^^^^is that for me?

 

[DriverSideImpact]

Oh, I never really looked under there haven't had the Ranger long (last 4WD was solid front axle, and last I-beam was a 2WD F250) but I figured there had to be something like that to join it all together. Alrighty...well time to buy some parts!

Again sorry for thread jacking... that center joint stuff was for me.


More advice to the OP. Can you manually lock-in the hubs or do you have auto-lock? If you have manual...jack up your truck, put the t-case in neutral (if you have manual t-case shift), lock the hubs. And spin the wheels...see if the noise happens. It will help to locate it and narrow it down.