Thunk!

[Little Red]

Everytime I move from a stop I hear and feel a soft "thunk" that seems to come from the rear.It happens whether I brake to a stop or just drift to a stop,full gas tank or not. No noise on braking,just pulling out normally. I replaced the leaf springs, shackles, shocks, and swaybar bushings. You can rock the truck by hand and feel and hear the "thunk" when it's in Park. It's not metallic like a u-joint.(They are tight).There doesn't seem to be excessive play in the rear axle gears either. Next I'll have to get a helper to rock the truck while I crawl under it to find the culprit. I just thought someone here went through it and can help me. I replaced a radius arm bushing on the pass. side too and the drivers side seems ok. This is driving me nuts.Front sway bar bushings only have about 25k on them. Trans and motor mounts seem tight too. '97 Ranger,4x4 ext. cab. 4.0 5spd auto.

 

[canyoncritter]

have you lubed the slip yoke in a while?

 

[Ranger44]

Usually when replacing things, what you do to one side....you do to the other.

As for th thunk....have anything heavy in the bed? LOL

Have you inspected the rear brake drums?

 

[Little Red]

Been thinking of the slip yoke. It thunks when there is something in the bed or not. I seems that it has to do with axle wind up. It winds one way on braking or (unwinds) and winds up the other direction on initial acceleration.I don't accel. hard. 220k miles. I bought it used with 175k on it. I bet the slip yoke never been greased. At least I know I didn't grease it. Runs great, no leaks, no smoke,no rust. Starts right up in any weather,gotta love it. Brake drums not an issue. It will thunk if I just coast to a stop.

 

[hitech_hick]

Have you checked for slop in the carrier bearing (it is the bearing that supports the long drive-shaft)?


hick

 

[Little Red]

That's where I need a helper to rock the truck by hand and make it thunk. Then I can see slop. There is very little while parked. I can rock it myself while I lay on my back under the spare tire (in my elevated driveway, it goes easy one way and I grunt a little the other way.(5' 10" 275# 38" waist 53 yrs OLD) checking the leaf springs etc. but I can't see that far forward. OLD eyes,remember? Just hope the parking pawl don't break in the trans.LOL

 

[canyoncritter]

try this just for shits and giggles....


grab the back corners of the bed, and rocks the truck side to side,so the tires kinda squirm around....and see if you can get the truck to remake the noise.....its a long shot but....

as for the parking pawl, then up,,,you would just have a "litte red" in the driveway hehe...(i know bad pun, and Im sure karma will get me for it)

 

[Little Red]

Tried that. It thunks fore and aft. Me thinks it's the rubber around carrier brg. I rocked it from underneath today crawling more forward and can see the driveshaft moving up and down in the brg. I already bought one 6 mo. ago. guess I have to put it in. The last one I disassembled got me a piece of it in my ear. It's still there after 25+ yrs. I soaked all the bolts etc. today I hope I can get them out. Pretty ugly under there.

 

[Little Red]

Thunk is no more. Finally got to change the carrier brg. Soaking all the bolts with PB Blaster for weeks helped a million. Found out the flange bolts are loc-tited from the factory. Had to use a 1/2" breaker bar. 220+k and all the u-joints were still good. Lots of grease still in them(lifetime greased) and no water or rust in the needles. Lucky Me.

 

[acortez]

Check this thread I made on a different forum. I think it will help.

http://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2/showthread.php?t=73528