vibration and thumping/thud from drivetrain upon accelleration

[fordlvr2]

I have a 1999 Ford Ranger XLT 3.0L. when i accellerate from a stop it feels like the drivetrain has slack in it and then it will engage so it feels like a thud or a thumping. anyone else have this issue. i have read online that there was a TSB on it and on how to fix this with a different size driveshaft and i was able to make that change but it didnt fix the problem.

If anyone has this same problem i would love to know how you handled fixing it if you were able to.

Thanks
Rich
West Bridgewater, MA

 

[kart45]

I have a 2000 standard cab 4x4, I experience the same occasionally. It's especially bad when navigating a parking lot/tight spaces and I can't get my truck into gear (another un-related problem [I think...] with the clutch hydraulic system) Once I do get it into gear though it feels like the entire drive-train rotates 30 degrees

Anyways - I'm interested on the topic as well.

 

[oldfordman]

Try greasing the slip joint in the middle of the driveshaft. If that starts to run dry, it will bind and do exactly what you are describing. The bad news is that you have to drop the driveshaft to do it. (my old chevy had a grease fitting for that reason). Anyway, mark the alignment on the driveshaft, unbolt from the rear, drop it down, cut the little metal bands on the rubber bellows, slide it apart and pack some grease in there. You do not have to drop the front, just the back so you can slide it apart. I'm partial to a good high pressure moly grease, but a standard chasis grease will do. When you are done, you need to re-seal the bellows. Some guys use nylon zip ties (cable ties), I use small metal hose clamps. Here is the important part- do not use a single clamp. Use 2 small clamps, unscrew them completely, and hook the two together. That way, when you put them onto the bellows, you can align the two screw heads opposite of each other, so that you won't have a drivehaft balance problem. If you only use one hose clamp, that screw assembly will give you a nasty vibration.