Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Drive train clunk!

[FATCAT]

Well, now with 178K on the truck I have been experiencing over the past few thousand miles a drive line "clunk" that is driving me nuts.



At first I was thinking it is the U-Joints ... I have all original ones on the drive shafts.



Well, when under the truck I can turn the drive shaft by hand about a 1/4" in either direction and "clunk"! I hold one of the drive shafts and try to turn the other and it seems the U-joints are OK.



My worry now is either the NP241 tail shaft or internals are loose or the rear axle pinion is loose (or something).



has any one else had this "clunk" happen to them ... and what did you do about it? My machanic said that he will check it out today and talked to a good quality Transmission shop in my area and they said if the U-Joints are good then the problem is the Transfer case and/or transmission and they won't look at it ... too many parts and too many things could be wrong with it ... SELL IT is their answer!

Well, that is not an option ... but I would like to know what other folks in this situation have done.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Sounds like slop in the rear differential... 1/4" isn't necessarily bad...



But at ~180k - that rear diff is probably ready for some new bearings/clutches (if equipped with limited-slip... )...



Matt

 

[FATCAT]

Yes I do have a limited slip rear-end. But being able to turn the shaft about a 1/4" in either direction ... is this slop in the Transfer Case or rear-end. Normally would the transfer case allow the drive shaft to be rotated by hand? I would figure that you should not be able to budge the drive shaft at all if the truck is in gear ... or am I wrong.



I guess I can live with it till the end of the trucks life (hopfully another 2 years), its just an anoyance to have the clunk, and a clunk come up the steering wheel.

 

[MHalloran]

Hey FATCAT--When does it clunk? I own a 96 with 176,000 miles and mine clunks when I step on the brakes. Sometimes loud, sometimes soft, sometimes not at all. It comes & goes. All u-joints look OK to me also. Prayin' nothin' falls out while I'm driving. :{ Sound seems to come from the front--front end looks OK too.