Clunking ONLY when in 4wd

[ColinM]

I have a 92 explorer with x83k miles on it lol. I had to replace the transfer case motor when I bought it. Have done every single fluid possible, valve cover gaskets...belts hoses, wires plugs...you name it. Everything has been going great, except the balljoints are on their way out. However, now whenever I engage 4wd, it seems to work fine but I get a rhythmic clunking noise coming from the left front wheel? I can hear AND feel the clunking. It sounds god awful, I jacked it up and looked under there, nothing looks loose or hanging down or anything, the balljoints aren't any worse than before...i'm at a loss. Auto hubs? Could the hub being all screwed up make that kind of a noise? Idk, just grasping at straws here....It NEVER happens when i'm just in 2wd, only when 4wd is engaged. It feels like someone is hitting the front left underside of the truck with a sledge...just started happening a week or so ago so I havn't been using 4wd. Anyways, any input would be great!

Thanks,
Colin

 

[RangerX]

Put it 4WD, raise both front tires, and with engine off and trans in neutral, turn the tires by hand. Then turn the front driveshaft. I would look at the U-joints.

 

[Webster3]

I had an auto-hub do that on me. Sounded just like you described.

Ed

 

[ColinM]

Well, i'm switching to the manual hubs tomorrow anyways, I like those better. So when I have it jacked up i'll check the U-joints as well...if i'm lucky the manual hubs will solve the problem. Thanks guys!

 

[rocco123]

If you disassemble the auto hub (look inside and remove the clip)... take 'er apart, and you will see the worn surface. This wear will not allow the hub to fully engage.

 

[insane3082]

SAme ProBLem GrrRR

hey im actually just now having the same problem but if i where u i would do the driveshaft thing before u go into manual hubs i went to a transmission place here in chicago and the mech..told me that there was nothing wrong with my transfer case which i thought was my problem, i havent gotten the chance to check out the driveshaft but thats what he told me. so do as the above post says and check out the u-joints before you go to manual. mine are actually manual(By. WARN). if you get that done just write back and let me know if it helped