Loud Clank from front end

[Wh33l3r]

Ok, I need help.
I drove my car out of the drive way and heard distinct metal on metal CLANK, CLANK with each turn on the wheel. I could feel torque building up before the sound happens like something is being stretched or bent back then released.. clank clank.. it was so loud my neighbors came out to see what I was doing.. it really felt like it was the drivers side so I parked and jacked the explorer, pulled the wheel.. nothing out of the ordinary, pulled the hub.. bearings are fine, pulled the CV axle, it is fine.
before I go any deeper i thought i would ask if anyone has run into a situation like this..
since i have taken that drivers side apart the sound is much less dramatic.. Not a capitalized CLANK now but a lower case clank clank.. and that puzzles me even more. what the heck is building up resistance then releasing with a clack clank?

 

[Cuco]

Ok, I need help.
I drove my car out of the drive way and heard distinct metal on metal CLANK, CLANK with each turn on the wheel. I could feel torque building up before the sound happens like something is being stretched or bent back then released.. clank clank.. it was so loud my neighbors came out to see what I was doing.. it really felt like it was the drivers side so I parked and jacked the explorer, pulled the wheel.. nothing out of the ordinary, pulled the hub.. bearings are fine, pulled the CV axle, it is fine.
before I go any deeper i thought i would ask if anyone has run into a situation like this..
since i have taken that drivers side apart the sound is much less dramatic.. Not a capitalized CLANK now but a lower case clank clank.. and that puzzles me even more. what the heck is building up resistance then releasing with a clack clank?

Remove your front driveshaft from the transfer case and drive the vehicle see if that helps at least this might narrow down your problem

 

[Wh33l3r]

Thanks.. I'm suspecting that linkage given the location of the sound. I will pull it on Monday and see what I can see.. err hear,.

 

[rasouth]

I had a similar sound with my Explorer a while back. Pulled out of a parking space and felt a jolt with some clunk sound. Some how or another my 4WD switch got turned to the 4WD Low position and would not go back to 2WD, (I live in SoCal and no need for 4WD Low on paved roads.) Tires binding up on solid ground, drive shafts and axles torqueing up and releasing, maybe. I drove it back and forth a few times in my drive way and it released.

 

[Wh33l3r]

Remove your front driveshaft from the transfer case and drive the vehicle see if that helps at least this might narrow down your problem

Pulled that front shaft and the problem went away.. turns out the rear facing joint boot was completely gone, no grease in the bearing and it was locked up pretty tight. I'm sure if i could break it open i would see rust and wiggle room.. replacing that rear facing U joint this weekend.
Thanks again for your insight and suggestion!