Clunk when shifting to R or D.

[zoti]

'98 Explorer 4WD 4.0L SOHC A/T with 58K.

When shifting into R I hear a loud clunk noise from the back. Shifting into D gives a clunk as well but not as bad..

The noise seems to go away as the car heats up.

I checked the U-joints and they seem to be OK. No loose parts.
I'm thinking it's the slip joint on the drive shaft that needs to be greased.

What do you think ? How hard is it to grease the slip joint and what kind of grease should I use ?

Thanks,
zoti


__________________
1998 Ford Explorer XLT 4.0 SOHC AT
1996 Mazda B2300 SE 5SP

 

[checkedout]

it's easy to do. just make sure you put marks on everything so it all goes back together exactly as it was and you won't get a driveline vibration problem. Use a lithium heavy duty grease. Do a search for slip yoke to see what others have done.

 

[zoti]

I did the slup yoke but the noise is still there. I had my wife shift from R to D and back and the noise seems to come from the reae differential.

Any other ideas ?

 

[bubbadabulldawg]

What are your rpms when this happens? If it happens right after you start it up are you waiting for the idle to drop or are you start, reverse, stop, drive, go. Because if you aren't waiting for a couple of minutes you're not allowing for the fluids to reach the pressure needed move the truck and with the rpms up it slams the drivetrain.

 

[Kris Guilbeaux]

Most likly it is the backlash at the ring and pinion. Do you have a Stock rear end or do you have a Powertrax locker or any thing else installed?

 

[bubbadabulldawg]

Originally posted by zoti
The noise seems to go away as the car heats up.

I don't think it's the ring and pinion if it's going away after the truck warms up, otherwise you would hear it all of the time. Try letting the truck idle for like 5 minutes so the fluids have a chance to circulate and start to warm up then see if it still does makes the clunking noise when you put it in gear.

 

[Foo]

I get the same clunk out of my '96 with 80k even after idle.... not the best sound in the world but I still have not been able to figure out the cuase of it.