Clunking?

[Red beast]

I have a clunk that happens when i shift. Either up or down. If i ease into the gear it doesnt happen. If im on it than i will get a clunk. I have checked engine and trans mounts and all are good. It feels more like slop in the drivetrain comin from the center or rear of the truck. I dont see any unusual play in u joints. But when i grab the the drive shaft and rotate it there is some play. Is this normal or is my rear axle just sloppy from age? The trans was rebuilt before i bought the truck. The transfer case seems to be in good condition. It is a 95 4x4 5 spd 4.0. Is this commom with rangers or do i just have tired parts? I beleive it is the ranger 8.8.

 

[Mark_88]

Probably the U-joint...had a bit of a clunk in mine that took a while to find...and I found it when the drive shaft tried to separate itself from the drive train...in the middle of winter in the middle of rush hour...

Not hard to change them yourself...just make sure you use a fine pointy tool to clean out the recess groove...made that mistake on the first one and cost me a few hours of down time to get it done right...

< Always carry a spare U-joint if you can >

 

[snake]

There was a string of years where the slip joint on the driveshaft went bad and started clunking- the fix was some special grease, or replace the DS if it was bad enough. Can't remember the years affected but someone here will know. I think there was a TSB on it at one time.

 

[Mark_88]

Correct...but that means a two-piece drive shaft...if it's a one-piece it doesn't apply. I remember reading about that and took mine apart but it didn't need grease...or, at least, it wasn't the cause of my clunking.

 

[Redneckryder]

On the opposite end of the spectrum, my 92 did that right before I grenaded the spiders in the rear diff. Get on it, get a clunk like it missed a tooth or something, then its fine. Downshift for a stop, and it would find said missing tooth again. Had the new u-joint in my hand on the way home when the spiders blew.....

I hope it's just a u-joint for ya....

 

[Red beast]

Mine is a 2 piece ds with a carrier bearing. All the u joints are in good condition. Im going to assume that my rear axle has some slop in it. It is almost 20 years old. Ill wait for it to go and then put an explorer 8.8 in.

 

[Andy D]

Mine is a 2 piece ds with a carrier bearing. All the u joints are in good condition. Im going to assume that my rear axle has some slop in it. It is almost 20 years old. Ill wait for it to go and then put an explorer 8.8 in.

I like the attitude Rats carrier bearing rubber part is compressed and the shaft is bouncing around a little. I re-packed the bearing and it is fine, I'm seriously considering taking up slack with some thing rubber like. But , I'm an old fart and have a light touch with the right foot. I shift slow and gentle because the shifter bits are worn. I had it out and greased up the slide with what ever is in the gun. My first rear u-joint R+R spit the caps out a 150 miles short of home on a 1300 mile road trip. I took the back 1/2 off and drove home on the front end. I bought a greasable Spicer,1330 and spent an afternoon making everything just so. I cleaned the lock ring grooves until they shone. I tapped around each cap until the bearings turned easily. When I greased it, the caps pushed snugly against the keepers. The other U -joints are OK for now. I am gentle with the front end. So far, so good with expensive stuff being OK . I drove the Rat only a 100 feet for a road test before I decided I liked the old wreck.

If I had burned the 600 bucks instead of buying the Rat, I would have been better off. I fixed all sorts of stuff that should have doomed it to the crusher. Lotsa parts and labor . Because the body doesnt have a good panel on it, and it is frayed around the edges. I could drop another thousand or so into it and it would still be a 1 K$ truck.

I do not care, It is a fun little truck to drive. It reminds me of the old trucks I had as a kid. And, it has a decent 4 WD too.

 

[killj0y]

Mine did the same thing recently and it was the u joints...that reminds me got to grease them this week lol.