rear differential problems?

I have a 99 Ford Ranger 4x4 with a 3.0 6 cyl engine.and automatic trans. It has 108000 miles on it and runs great except for the clunk sound coming from the rear upon acceleration from a dead stop. The sound also occurs upon stopping. Otherwise the tranny seems to shift just fine This sound only occurs momentarily. I been told it's probably the rear end bearings or back lash adjustments.

Any idea whats involved with fixing this? How much money or how many hours involved. I've been known to get my hands greasy. Is this something I can do or just leave it to the experts?

Swenny

i would say it sounds like u-joints. check these first by turning driveshafts while in park and see if the u-joints are sloppy.at 100,000 miles they are prob shot.if you have a vice and a small and large socket you could press them out yourself

The U-joints appear to be ok. Can I take the cover off the rear differential and see anything that might tell me that's where the problem is?

you could start by checking fluid thru fill plug first.then take off tire and brake drum, then put tire back on for leverage to check for play in bearings at each end of axle. then i would take off diff cover to look for wear or metal in fluid.

The u bolts don't go bad after 100,000 miles!!!! :bs:
open the differential cover - just a few bolts - (don't forget about the fluid-it's probably a good time to change it anyway) - and look for any wear on the spyder or drive gear and for metal shavings in the old fluid (I doubt it). Then, check at the front of the rear housing and take a look at the connections... maybe the crush washer was tightened too much or maybe the axle has worn the casing down a little?

ranger of danger,i said u-joints not u-bolts and yes u-bolts could go bad after 100,000 miles

my mistake, but i would say that those can last a lot longer... just depending on use....
i've seen many trucks with 200,000 and 300,000 miles that have the original (and not rebuilt) drivetrain except for the engine. My friend has a B2 that had over 500,000 miles on the stock drivetrain (only thing done was the engine rebuilt once)....

Please, please..... I have the same exact problems that sweeny described above. Does anyone know where to start. I am pretty good mechanically and could probably do the job if I had a clue where to start. I have already tried all suggestions listed above and I'm still having the same problems. Help!

You can take the cover off and take a look in there and like the others have said it is a good idea to change the oil in there anyway.It is very easy to do.My 93 did the same thing.My problem turned out to be the pin that holds everything together in there together.It had come out or broken I don't remember exactly which one since it's been awhile.David you may want to check yours since you have already looked in there but you may not have seen it or even checked it.Don't let it go much longer like I did because it eventually did alot of damage in there by the time I fixed it.I hope this helps one of you out.

well hello i had this same problem what i found out it was that where the driveshaft slides into the tranny was getting bound up take it apart and clean it up real good, nice and shiney, and then pack it up with grease and this should help also you may have some sagging leaf springs and at stop and go times the articulation point or angle of the u joint is not cool and it will make a big ol bam this happened on the wife's cherokee let me if this help mike