Hello All

[darms101]

My names Dave and I find this site great for finding info out for fixes for my 96 explorer. Last problem was the cluch and the bleeding of it, and the info I found on here just fixed it right up (so thanks for them posts).
Now I find myself trying to fix a problem before it gets worse. and that is the sound that I get when I put the truck into 4 wheel drive. It sounds like a crappy u joint,but I dont even know if theres u joints in the frount drive train.So what Im looking for some help with is someone to point me to the right thread with pics or diagrams of the front drive train to fix the problem. Thanks

 

[FR-425]

Is it noisy when your rolling or just at engagement.

Some clunk'n bang'n at engagement is normal especially
into low range.

If you don't have clunk, clunk, clunk while rolling it's all good.

And yes the Twin Traction Beam (TTB) Has 5 u-joints 3 in the drive shaft 1 in each steering knuckle.

 

[darms101]

Thanks for the reply...When u say clunk clunk clunk when its rolling ...thats the way it is.....the more gas u give it the bader it gets.....really bad when your turning and its in high 4x4

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! How many miles does it have? You might be better off replacing all of the U joints if they are very old.

 

[rmays06]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[FR-425]

Yep sounds like a bad u-joint, worse when turning is probably one of the axles.
Best to rebuild both axle joint's, Easy to do, there are threads with step by step on here. The drive shaft is also doable, but it's worth the money to have a shop do it, CV joints can have only the joints replaced but if the pivot cup is shot it must be replaced.

It is also possible that the differential is busted,
So how can you trouble shoot?

Start by rotating the drive shaft by hand with the hubs unlocked, NOT in 4x4. this way you will only be turning the differential. Turn the drive shaft all the way around at least 5 times to be sure you've turned the diff all the way round. ( gear ratio 3.73 to 1) etc. Should be nice and smooth. It will simplify this if you remove the hubs if they are automatics, because automatics will lock when you rotate the drive line.

If they are automatic hubs the next step is to put ONE of them back on and rotate the drive-line again. This will force the spider gears to "tumble" this will test for broken spider gears in the diff. Note: If the axle u-joint is bad during this test you will feel that too.

Check your axle u-joints by using a pry bar to gently pry on the joint. The "cross" should not move about in the bearing cups. If it's sloppy it's done. Do this on both sides.