89 Ranger Funny Sounds?

Hey, just kinda trying to diagnose a problem here, any input would be great.

My ranger started to make a clicking sound on my way home from up north the other day, and then it got worse and worse the further I drove on. It pretty much sounds like someone tied a stick to my driveshaft or something.

It progressively gets worse as you accelerate..
BUT
-It doesnt make the sound at idle or a stop if you are revving the engine.
-In neutral whether you are in motion or not the sound is not there

When the sound happens it is when you are putting it into gear and start giving it gas as you let off the clutch.. then once you are accelerating in gear (any gear) thats when the sound occurs.

I was thinking transfer case but I"m not sure? what do you guys think??

what year is the truck ? so when you are at idle or stop, that means clutch is engaged. and also clutch is disengaged when you pt in nuetral and no noise is present. I would look more into clutch or flywheel inspection first. take a peek through the inspection plate for any cracks on flywheel, or loose hardware on clutch as much as you can see and work from there. give more info on truck also.

what year is the truck ? so when you are at idle or stop, that means clutch is engaged. and also clutch is disengaged when you pt in nuetral and no noise is present. I would look more into clutch or flywheel inspection first. take a peek through the inspection plate for any cracks on flywheel, or loose hardware on clutch as much as you can see and work from there. give more info on truck also.


its a 1989 Ford Ranger XLT, 2.9 engine with a 5 speed manual transmission.

I suppose that would make alot more sense for the flywheel and clutch and that.... I've never really taken that sort of thing apart so maybe I will just take it in.

But yeah.. its only when you really engage the clutch... the only too is that when you aren't giving it gas the noise will drop substantially?
and I guess you could describe the sound as more of a clunking... you can also feel something hitting as it spins sort of thing....

It sounds,to me,like a universal joint is dry.

what makes you say that? i've never really had a problem with a u-joint so i'm not too sure what it all entails?

Most of the u-joints used today(OEM)have no provision for greasing.If they do,often as not,it will be the needle type that requires a different grease gun tip. A dry bearing will often make the noise you described,AND cause the thump as the bearing resists turning.

kanip, before you get too far into this MAKE SURE you've inspected all the simple things like loose hunks of rubber on the tire, lugs, backing plates (I always have a stick caught there), etc. before you go any deeper. More often than not it's something simple. BB

yeah i definately have checked for all the simple stuff. i checked that all out when i first started hearing it but found nothing and it just got progressively worse as i kept driving home lol...

its a pretty big clunk too... that'd be too big of a stick too miss ;)

aside from that... would a u-joint act like that? in the sense that you only really hear it when you're accelerating?

most u-joints make a clunk on sudden accelleration, switch form forward to reverse, coast to accell, normally. and unless 'shaft angle that steep shouldn't be with continuous. to check u-joint grasp shaft and try to turn back and forth. shouldn't have play between yoke and shaft.

Make sure nothing is wrapped around the driveshaft. A short piece of wire or rope picked up on the road might make this sort of noise too. It's not likely, but is a possibility - especially if you take it off road.

yeah i checked all the driveshafts and stuff for debris or wires. its more of a clunk and you can actually feel it so it wouldn't be something small or weak ..

aside from that i will have to check out the u joint part.. but would that be a continuous sound on acceleration? rather than just a clunk to start and thats it?

I've actually had a universal joint so bad that it caused my truck to shimmy coming down the road. They make different noises.....from squeeks to clunks. I would check the universals first before I got my hands really dirty.

I would agree with Butch and mustbusmc. U joints on my ranger were an issue and having similar indications. After replacing mine twice in 4 months I had the driveshaft re-balanced and all was well afterward. and in case anyone else wonders, yup, I center punched the shaft and yoke so that I wouldnt re-install different but perhaps the previous ownder did not. shrugs. I notice that there hasnt been a reply on this in a couple of weeks. Did you resolve this problem already?

Hey, just kinda trying to diagnose a problem here, any input would be great.

My ranger started to make a clicking sound on my way home from up north the other day, and then it got worse and worse the further I drove on. It pretty much sounds like someone tied a stick to my driveshaft or something.

It progressively gets worse as you accelerate..
BUT
-It doesnt make the sound at idle or a stop if you are revving the engine.
-In neutral whether you are in motion or not the sound is not there

When the sound happens it is when you are putting it into gear and start giving it gas as you let off the clutch.. then once you are accelerating in gear (any gear) thats when the sound occurs.

I was thinking transfer case but I"m not sure? what do you guys think??

I know I'm late on this but I'm a newcomer.

I have to agree with butch h about the U-joints. My 89 had the same symptons and it did turn out to be the U-joints. I changed them all as a precaution.

let us know how it worked out.

no its still a problem, i have to fix it up this week though, i just haven't had time to take any better of a look at anything, been out of town for work and everything...

i'll take a look at it all tommorow and we'll see how it all works out

yeah it seems like a pinion in my rear diff is done i took the cover off and some teeth even just fell out! so .. yeah, I think im gonna just replace the entire thing if I can to an 8.8 ... so if anyone has one for sale in the area i need one asap :P