"Clank" when shitfting gears

[JBeck]

I have an 04 xlt supercab 4x4, bought it about a 9 months. Since I have had it, it makes a 'clank' noise when I shift gears as the clutch begins to engage. I have been snooping around here for a while and read threads about the slip yoke making a noise when accelerating so I thought that that was all it was, but it seems this was only an issue at initial acceleration. Mine does this at every shift 50% to 75% of the time. There is also a vibration when starting from dead stop 50% to 75% of the time. After inspection, I believe I have a one piece drive shaft (correct me if I am wrong as I am still a newbie to rangers). What do you guys think it might be?

 

[skippy]

I have an 04 xlt supercab 4x4, bought it about a 9 months. Since I have had it, it makes a 'clank' noise when I shift gears as the clutch begins to engage. I have been snooping around here for a while and read threads about the slip yoke making a noise when accelerating so I thought that that was all it was, but it seems this was only an issue at initial acceleration. Mine does this at every shift 50% to 75% of the time. There is also a vibration when starting from dead stop 50% to 75% of the time. After inspection, I believe I have a one piece drive shaft (correct me if I am wrong as I am still a newbie to rangers). What do you guys think it might be?

check the u-joints.

 

[Jspafford]

I have an 04 xlt supercab 4x4, bought it about a 9 months. Since I have had it, it makes a 'clank' noise when I shift gears as the clutch begins to engage. I have been snooping around here for a while and read threads about the slip yoke making a noise when accelerating so I thought that that was all it was, but it seems this was only an issue at initial acceleration. Mine does this at every shift 50% to 75% of the time. There is also a vibration when starting from dead stop 50% to 75% of the time. After inspection, I believe I have a one piece drive shaft (correct me if I am wrong as I am still a newbie to rangers). What do you guys think it might be?

The slip yoke will cause a "shudder" or thump when initally taking off or coming to a stop.

I have never heard of it causing a vibration. The joint doesn't get loose, the cause is the lube gets nasty and doesn't let it slip like it needs to.

 

[JBeck]

The more I have researched this, it sounds like it is the U-joints. Is there a way to check this to make sure or should I just go in and replace them. Should I go ahead and replace both of them and is there anything that will give me any trouble doing this or is it pretty simple and self explanatory? Thanks for the help.

 

[JBeck]

I just read the article about U Joints in the latest TRS Magazine, very informative. That pretty much covered everything I needed to know.