Problem with 1997 Explorer, Need help asap!

[Expl0ring]

Vehicle description: 1997 Explorer sport, 2dr, 5spd, 116,000 miles

Problem:

The past few days i have noticed that when stopped at a redlight or anything, when starting out in 1st it feels like the back end of my explorer is "bouncing" like it kind of feels like a bucking in a way, it does this all the way through 2nd, and also if im going around a turn and drop it in 2nd it will do this also..

I really dont know how else to describe the problem other than "bouncing" in the rear end..

Need help asap as this is my daily!!

 

[2000StreetRod]

U joints?

I would check the driveshaft U joints (front and rear) for wear. Drive the vehicle slowly getting up to 4th gear. Let off the accelerator to coast and then accelerate. If there is a clunk when you accelerate then it's probably one or both of the U joints.

Another possibility if you go off road is mud caked on the driveshaft making it out of balance.

 

[mcpherson]

automatic or manual?

possibly the clutch and throwout bearing

 

[bisjoe]

You can check u-joints by crawling underneath, grab the driveshaft near the end ( front, then back) and shake. If the joints are bad you can often feel the play in it.

Throwout bearing is easier to test. At the drive-up window at your favorite food place with your window open, you can hear a rattling noise reflecting off the building.

A warped clutch can do that but you should feel it through your foot.

 

[Expl0ring]

Well i just put a front driveshaft back on when the truck started doing this, and i talked to a buddy and he rode with me.. turns out the truck wasnt disengaging out of 4x4 so i was driving around with 4x4 on -_-, but i think i figured out what was going on, so im going to put the driveshaft back on tomorrow (took it off tonight). Because i was messing with it, and if i put it in "4low" i can hear it clunk (engages) and if i put it back in "auto" i can hear another clunk which i think is the transfercase going back to 2wd and disengaging 4wd *hopefully*, because if i put it in "4high" it doesnt clunk like its engaging and if i put it in "auto" afterwards it doesnt clunk like its disengaging, so im hopeing its not going from "4low" to "4high" when i switch from "4low" to "auto" if that makes sense.. lol i guess we will find out tomorrow. hopeing for the best