loud clicking noise while 4wd under load

[marra-fabrications]

i have a 99 ranger with a 3.0/manual... i have noticed that under load i get a loud clicking noise, it sounds like its coming from the front driveline but im not sure, could possibly be the t-case.

its got all stock drive line, except i have modified the hubs to be locked full time.

i am thinking that its possible the 4wd is jumping in and out of gear but im not sure, has anyone else ever experienced this before?

 

[marra-fabrications]

anything at all?...im leaning towards weak 4ed motor

 

[--weezl--]

is the speed of the clicking constant with the speed of the truck? does it get louder while turning? change speed while turning, and driving at a constant? does it taper off in loudness as you let off the throttle, or does it simply just disappear?

have you tried taking it into some mud/dirt/ice and seeing if it is actually in 4x4? do you have a video showing audio of the click? how did you modify your hubs? what speeds are we talking about in general? is it a manual transfercase or electronic?

can you get someone to walk next to the vehicle to try to isolate the area it's coming from? does it only do it while accelerating, or under any load? (try driving with the ebrake on for a short period)

we are going to need a few more details

 

[shane96ranger]

It might be your t-case skipping teeth. I've seen that on a couple in my buddies shop.

But yeah, as weezl said, give us a few more details.

 

[scooter]

Does it have a CV joint in the front driveshafft? If so, thats my unprofessinal advice.


Todd S.

 

[pcollins]

99's had the stupid shit vacuum hubs, but i think they had CV shafts still. I'm betting its those, or maybe the vacuum hubs took a shirt.

 

[scooter]

In my experance, when a hub skips, its a pretty loud bang.
That little ball and socket in that CV get worn out it clicks allot.
My .02


Todd S.

 

[marra-fabrications]

four wheel drive pops/clicks under load.... for example, i was pulling my friend out of a mud hole in 4 high and as soon as i would get all 4 spinning, i would hear a loud clicking/popping noise, and the truck would do a slight jerk. then i would get pulling again and it would do it again. if i continued to hold the gas. it would do it consecutively... (very deep mud)

yes it does have the CV front drive line. and the crappy vacum hubs...

i modified the hubs by taking them apart, and removing the retainer clip that holds the springs from engaging the hub, then i also pulled out the in white plastic sleeve and replaced it with a large washer that was just the right size to hold in the CV ring.

i hear there are no after market hubs for these trucks, but there is a guy down the road from me who has a set on his 99 but i have never asked him the manufacture

 

[--weezl--]

I THINK you can do a conversion to use warn, heep hubs, but its costly... Looking at probably 400 a side, iirc...

I would like to make the distinction that our trucks (depending on the year) use cv joints on both the driveSHAFT, and axles, both of which fall under the term "driveline". Not to be a dick, just please be clear on which you are referring to (to all parties)


Sent from somewhere naughty!

 

[marra-fabrications]

By drive line I mean front drive shaft, sorry I'll be more clear in future posts. But I guess what I'm asking is weather it's possible for the t case to pop in and out of 4wd under extreme load with a weak 4wd motor, I ask this because it tends to do it more in 4 low. Which would be causing more load.

 

[--weezl--]

the 4x4 motor is not going to be the problem... if it's weak, it just won't go into 4x4... if it's literally skipping, then the only real logical reason would be worn out sprockets inside the t/c

 

[scooter]

It does it more in 4low because your transfer case is a torque multiplier.....
4:1 gears means if your engine is making 200#ft torque, its making 800#ft with 4:1 gears.

If it pops out of 4wd its gonna be a faily loud bang!!! Ive never heard a t-case chain slip before so i dont KNOW what that sounds like but, i bet its loud too.
Pull your front driveshaft out and wobble your CV...... I bet its binding up on ya.
Todd S.

 

[shane96ranger]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if the CV joint was skipping, wouldn't the boot get pretty jacked up (making the problem pretty obvious)? When the front drive shaft took a dump in my brothers Explorer, the boot had tears in it and it threw grease EVERYWHERE. Do they not all fail like that?

EDIT: Here's a short clip I found of a T-Case skipping teeth to show you the type of sound they make.

 

[--weezl--]

no not all of them... my tempest had a perfect boot but it was worn out completely, the guy said i MAYBE had 10 km of normal driving left on it before it separated

 

[scooter]

Driveshaft CV's have boots???
Ive never seen one, but i aint seen everything.....
Im talkin bout one of the "double cardian" suckers that has two u-joints. PITA to rebuild, and bigggg $$$ too.
Make sure were talking bout the same thing here.


Todd S.