please help me diagnose the noises!!!

[eXplorerbubb]

specs:
4.0 V6 Auto 4wd
98,000
I take it off-road maybe twice a month on easy trails that stock vehicles can handle. I have not done anything yet to fix these problems cause I'm still trying to figure out what they are.

pops/bumps when gearing down from 2nd to 1st

pops/bumps when taking off from a complete stop

vibration in lower gears (1-3) when accelerating

I've searched the threads here and other places, and I'm still confused. For all the pops and bumps, think I need to lube the slip yoke, & check the torsion bar pads(?). For the vibration, I was told that it could be an engine mount and or transmission mount. ANY advice would be appreciated!

bubb

 

[Sallad420]

For mine, the pops and creaks were coming from the sway bar endlinks.

 

[Bronco638]

You could also check all the u-joints, CV joints and look for broken/loose suspension items.

 

[eXplorerbubb]

Well, dad and I lubed the slip yoke with some C&C (?) grease. It's water resistant, dust resistant, etc. After the first shot of grease, I jumped up and down on the rear bumper to work it in (thanks for the advice from another post), then gave it another shot of grease. By the time we were through, the boot was full. It has stopped the bump sound that I got when taking off from a complete stop!

Now to fix the bump when the auto tranny downshifts from 2nd to 1st!

 

[eXplorerbubb]

Dad and I did some more work today on the "clunk" that was happening when downshifting. Apparently turned out to be caused by not enough fluid in the transfer case. We put some Valvoline Max-Life ATF in it, and so far, it's taken away the clunk noise!

 

[eXplorerbubb]

I was wrong! The clunk is still there!