Pamunkey
New Member
- Joined
- April 18, 2004
- Messages
- 2
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- King William, VA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- '97 XLT
Update - Since posting, I had to drive 5 hours up Interstate 95 and 5 hours back. It is really bad now. Clunking at mild acceleration (actually mild increased gas pedal pressure to maintain speed). Clunking can continue every few seconds. Severity of clunk (volume, feeling through floorboard, and shaking of vehicle) increases with increased rate of acceleration. Clunks with or without Overdrive engaged. Clunks if gearshift lever in 2nd gear. Looked like other drivers could hear the clunk on the highway as evidenced by their head turning when they are in the next lane and it clunks. Looks like I will have to wait until something fully breaks before learning just what is the cause. Any help will still be appreciated.
'97 XLT with 204K. (AT, V6, 4WD) Six months ago, started rear end clunk on mild acceleration. Initially sounded like a soccer ball rolling against rear door. Most common occurence when accelerating out of a curve or starting up an incline. Gradually worsened to the point that the truck would noticeably "jump" with clunk. Took to my mechanic (trustworthy friend and a former long-time Ford dealership mechanic who started his own business). He suspected rear differential problem, removed cover and found extensive damage and wear. Rebuilt entire rear differential - no change at all. Inspected and serviced drive shaft, u-joints, and everything else he could imagine would cause problem but no luck. He was frustrated and not even charging me for the extensive troubleshooting time. He consulted with fellow mechanics at dealership and other shops who would suggest everything that he had already done. Several mechanics suggested transfer case which he also suspected but wary of cost if wrong. I finally gave him the go-ahead to replace transfer case. PROBLEM FIXED! But a month later, the clunk is starting again. Still slight, just like when it first started six months ago. I am having trouble believing that the second transfer case is causing the same symptom. Wondering if the process of replacing the transfer case temporarily fixed the real cause (what??) that is gradually coming back.
Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
'97 XLT with 204K. (AT, V6, 4WD) Six months ago, started rear end clunk on mild acceleration. Initially sounded like a soccer ball rolling against rear door. Most common occurence when accelerating out of a curve or starting up an incline. Gradually worsened to the point that the truck would noticeably "jump" with clunk. Took to my mechanic (trustworthy friend and a former long-time Ford dealership mechanic who started his own business). He suspected rear differential problem, removed cover and found extensive damage and wear. Rebuilt entire rear differential - no change at all. Inspected and serviced drive shaft, u-joints, and everything else he could imagine would cause problem but no luck. He was frustrated and not even charging me for the extensive troubleshooting time. He consulted with fellow mechanics at dealership and other shops who would suggest everything that he had already done. Several mechanics suggested transfer case which he also suspected but wary of cost if wrong. I finally gave him the go-ahead to replace transfer case. PROBLEM FIXED! But a month later, the clunk is starting again. Still slight, just like when it first started six months ago. I am having trouble believing that the second transfer case is causing the same symptom. Wondering if the process of replacing the transfer case temporarily fixed the real cause (what??) that is gradually coming back.
Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
