Clicking sound from under vehicle (97 5.0 AWD)

[kledford]

Chaulk It up - One more 5.0

My 97 Mec. Mount. has started a similar scenario. Clicking from front left. Changes in speed, Turning direction, forward or reverse, Neutral coasting, none make it any worse or better. It does not appear to do this all the time.. Occasionally it does this but has been worse lately. Was underneath it last night... no play in the front DS's (Wheel to FD). There does seem to be some play in the front drive shaft between the TC and the FD. The play actually feels like it is near the TC. Should I assume here I am looking at a needed as new TC?

Kyle
97 Mountaineer 199k

 

[dtang]

Same problem on a 97 and 98 X

Came across the same problem on a 97 and 98 X. I found that the rubber boot thats recessed in the front driveshaft to tc connection had a split in both cases. Stuck my finger in the split and felt some light residue of grease. I pulled the front driveshaft off on the tc side and packed grease in between. No more noise in either case. Now I've just got to make some time to replace that split boot and get that thing repacked for good!

 

[Kevin Barry]

I have this same exact problem on my 97 Mountaineer. Just before I get to a complete stop or just when I start I hear a crunching/ticking noise. It is definitely coming from the drivers side somewhere under the door close to the t-case. The best I can describe this is the sound of ice crushing in a blender when the blender almost stops. I can't locate the culprit.

 

[JChrisMarion]

Cut to the chase, my noise that was identical to what most of you heard was infact the transfer case. I had already replaced the front hubs, front axle, axle shafts. Noise was still there.

Then a nice BOOM when I went to take off at an intersection. The inside of the transfer case came apart. $800 for a used 60k mile case and problem solved. Remanufactured was $1600. I didnt believe it was coming from the transfer case, as it sounded from in front of my feet when driving. But thats what it was.

I would have to contribute it to a harmonic frequency that is travelling through the metal before being audible. My scientific theory.

 

[Kevin Barry]

Has anyone else had the transfer case go, or has anyone attributed this problem to the actual universal joints. I sure as heck hope its not the t-case. I've seen a variety of posts that it is the Universal Joint. This is the first post where someone has confirmed my worst fear.

 

[ttbit]

Well, I have had a little tick/crunch that I notice when rolling into my garage or driving really slow. Have had it since I had my truck running with the v8 and it hasn't been too loud. When the truck is off the ground with wheels rolling, there is no noise. Didn't think too much about it as it didn't get worse over the year. Tonight while coming home I heard/felt a couple of semi-violent clunks that seemed like something binding and releasing. This was while driving under 30 mph and not under load. I guess I will know more tomorrow when I drive it. I was less than a mile from my house when it happened and then a few houses away. Mine is a '96 drivetrain. Will report if something happens. Found this thread searching for clunk.

 

[ttbit]

As a follow-up to what I found. I changed out the TC fluid. It was pretty black. After driving, the clunk is still there, but the crunching sound at low speeds seems to be gone.

Tonight, I decided to look over the front suspension. I found the driver's side sway bar link broken. OK, so that is what the sound I heard from the front left was. Now I can only hope it was the other sound I was hearing too, as it almost seemed like I had two different clunks after driving it the next day. Will report if I find something else also.

 

[Kevin Barry]

Finally got a warm enough day recently to change the t-case fluid (did the diffs too). Crunching/Grinding noise is gone after T-Case fluid change. However, after a few days there now seems to be a whining noise on acceleration. The whine is constant and does not seem to change with speed. Thought it was the rear end, but a friend of mine says the whining is coming from underneath the floorboards beneath the console. If I place the tranny in neutral and coast, no noise. re-engage tranny, whining returns. All fluids are full.