UV joint or rear diff?

[verno316]

Hi there, I have a stock 02 Explorer Eddie Bauer. I have noticed a clunking when the gears change, particularly when it's cold and at low speeds. Then it smooths out as things warm up. Today we had a good dump of snow and the roads were particularly bad. When starting from a stop, and especially going up hill on a start, there is a clunking in the rear end. It feels almost like someone is kicking the back of the truck. The clunking stops if you let off the gas and accelerate slowly. I also notice I hear a squeak at low speeds that sounds similar to a wheel bearing going bad. Thoughts?

 

[Number4]

If you can get under your ex, push up on the drive shaft (right at the joint.). If it's to the point it's clunking, then the shaft should have play.

 

[IPcamper]

I have a 2003 as well, the rear differential pinion bearing failed at 95,000 miles and acted like that. I thought it was the the U-joints as well, but ended up having the diff rebuilt.

 

[5whiskey]

Yeah, you can crawl under the truck and probably observe a u joint failure. Plus a u joint also makes more of a constant noise under load... sounds like a baseball card against bicycle spokes the whole time your foot is on the gas.