Clunk from rear 96 explorer

[sonido08]

For a while now i've had a clunk ( sometimes almost like a bucking) coming from the rear and sometimes the left front of my 96 explorer 4x4. This is only during acceleration and none during deceleration and it only happens every so often. More in the back than the front. I greased the front and back slip yoke liberally and no change. I checked the u-joints on front and back driveshafts and there was visibly no play. There is no play in the front or rear differentials. I removed the differential cover on the rear and everything seemed okay. There is alittle play in the rear output shaft on the transfercase. I really don't have any idea so hopefully you guys can shoot some out to me. Thanks alot!!

**Also we had the truck on stands on the back and tires locked down on the front and had it in drive up to a good speed and it did not clunk. Is the front axle supposed to spin with it only in 2wd? My boot on the drivers side cv joint has pulled back and grease leaked out. It does not click or grind on turns at all no matter how sharp they are but perhaps if it was clunking or bucking on that cv joint would it travel the drivetrain all the way to the back? Sorry for the long novel I wrote but I am clueless to what is happening. Thanks again.

 

[96V8Xploder]

Hi, for starters I would check the u-joints on each drivshaft. I found you a very good link for this operation. Using the search engine below can help you find info for about anything explorer related on this site.

Heres the link:


http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=134134

 

[offroadjosh]

... check your sway bar end links i broke one and it did the same thing you said... (sounded like the back but was the front) and i noticed no difference in handling and i drive on hwy and gravel roads daily


Josh

 

[sonido08]

Well I've replaced the u joints on the rear axle and cleaned and greased the slip yoke again. Also i removed the rear differential cover again and inspected it and nothing. Changed the fluid in it. Took the rear wheels, brakes, and rotors off and inspected them. Everything is fine. Yet when I took it out again today it still clunks. On a complete flat surface just driving normal it clunks from the rear. You can definitely feel it. I drove behind it with my head out the window while someone drove it and you can hear it pretty loud outside also. I'm stumped. Could the transfer case or transmission make this clunk noise and send it to the back?

 

[jd4242]

i had a spider gear tooth brake off before in my bronco and it made the same sound only under had acceleration or going around in a circle

 

[sonido08]

I actually really wish one was missing cause then I'd know the problem but all the teeth in the diff. are good and intact and not a shard or piece of metal in the bottom of the case or fluid.

 

[jd4242]

haha I dought it but maybee your spare tire is loose and hitn something

 

[sonido08]

Haha...thats actually the first thing I took care of. But its definitely in the drive train cause it causes the rear end to buck sometimes. Like something is binding up bad. I fear tomorrow if the storm subsides that I'll take it to my garage and remove the transfercase and open it up.

 

[sonido08]

Well after buying another transfercase and putting it on, all is well. No more clunks. Thanks.