Drive Train Clank

[Thub]

Recently my truck has been making a lot more clanking type noises. The sound usually occurs right as I begin to accelerate in Reverse and in drive. Seems to happen when the engine applies torque to the drive train. It does not happen extremely frequent but often enough for me to notice.

I'm thinking that a U joint could be going bad. Is that worth investigating?
Or is it just the transmission doing its thing?

It is hard to tell if the truck is making any other noise at speed with the diff howling.

I guess what is the common noises/feels encountered with bad U joints on these trucks.

 

[swshawaii]

Check the slip yoke first. Do a search, very common. GL

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/search.php?searchid=7313907
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106307

 

[Thub]

Do the gen 3s even have a slip yoke with the IRS design. Where is is located exactly, the only rubber boot I see on the drive shaft is about dead even with the fuel tank, a foot or 2 behind the t-case. Is that it.

 

[JohnnyO]

The slip yoke will be on the front of the driveshaft where it goes into the transmission or transfer case.

 

[PEAR0119]

There is no slip yoke on the 3rd Gens, the driveshaft is directly bolted to the transmission. First thing I would do is take a look at those U-joints, but also take a look at the U-joint and CV joint on the front DS.

 

[JohnnyO]

There is no slip yoke on the 3rd Gens, the driveshaft is directly bolted to the transmission. First thing I would do is take a look at those U-joints, but also take a look at the U-joint and CV joint on the front DS.

Oops, I forgot about that since the diff doesn't move. My bad. Thinking old-school.

 

[EXPLORER04]

Oops, I forgot about that since the diff doesn't move. My bad. Thinking old-school.

3rd gen 4x4 = has slip yoke / 3rd gen 2wd = no slip yoke