Drivetrain Clunk - 96 Chevy s-10 2.2

[jbrisson]

Hey everyone.. looking at some drivetrain problems I think.

My 96 s-10 2.2 has for some months now been clunking whenever the drivetrain gets any sort of torque.. be it a a strong accel thru about 3rd gear, or switching from forward to reverse and viceversa.
I thought at first it might have been the bushings on the leafs, perhaps a mount, but I checked all that to no avail. I even changed out the tranny oil, shifting is still smooth. I have the common noisy throwout bearing, but this noise sounds like it's coming from the middle or the rear of the truck.

One other thing I noticed is after a brake job on the rear from Monroe (500 dollars!) There is an inconsistent squeak (think tiny little bird chirping) that increases with speed and eventually becomes undetectable. It happens seemingly at random, but only started when this clunking did.

I was eyeing the ujoints, but those look fairly clean the last time I had it on the lift (2 days ago) Is there any way anyone knows of to verify the integrity of the ujoints without tearing the whole thing down?

Additionally, I've had two coilpacks go bad in the last month, does anyone know if this little 2.2 has ever had a common problem with them going bad?

TIA for any advice!


-jb

[dugie6551]

Clunking sound - If you have a two-piece driveshaft, check the center driveshaft carrier bearing (where the driveshafts join.) If it is starting to go bad, it will cause the clunking sound.
U joints - If you can wiggle the driveshaft side-to-side, then that will indicate that the u-joints are bad.

[jbrisson]

Nah, I have a single driveshaft. It's a shortbed p-up. I had it on the lift a couple days ago, and I turned and pushed against the driveshaft trying to feel for any play, there was none.. I figured theres not much I can do besides that.. do you happen to know if the diff could be making that kinda noise? .. also I wonder, the bushings on the leafs looked alright, but is there a way to drop the leafs on these and replace those bushings, or are they usually a set?

[smokey041369]

put the truck on the lift running with someone in it and put the truck in gear so the sound can be traced

[lostaggie]

Sometimes you can't put enough torque on the U-joints by hand to determine if they are going bad (noisy). I had problem with my U-joints making noise but never could detect any play by hand. But changed them and the sound went away.

[vballfun]

I've got a 95 S-10 Blazer 4.3L automatic trans that has started doing something that sounds the same as this...

When I am parked and put it in reverse to back out of a parking spot I get repetative clunking sound especially if I'm backing up slightly up hill (e.g. in parking garage at work)
(vibrates the whole vehicle slightly)

The only other time I hear the sound is going about 55-60 mph when it wants to shift from 3rd to 4th.. (then it feels/sounds like I'm going over those antispeed strips or the 'wakeup' strips along side of highway).. if I accelerate (so that it drops back down a gear for accelleration power) it doesn't happen..

Does this sound like a transmission problem? or a driveshaft problem?

-Tim

[vtmecheng]

I have a 95 S10 pickup w/ 4.3Z, 5-spd., and 4X4. Sounds like same noise I hear. Had mine on a lift and checked the U-joints and rear deferential but they were good. Noise seems to be coming from clutch/transmission/transfer case area. It has been doing the noise for almost 40,000 miles so I am not going to worry much about it.

[jbrisson]

Sweetness... I pulled down the shaft, and replaced the lower joint.. once I got it all apart and was able to take a close look at the bearings I found the 4 of the 5 culprits. Those things must have been screaming in pain they were so dry and beat. While I was at it I replaced the upper as well. I thought I was golden, but not fully. I still had somewhat of a vibration on the road. It was long since time for new tires, so I went and did that with no improvement (new toyos, 475..)

So I finally broke down and took it to a dealership to be told that for some reason, the right rear axle is somewhat bowed. Anyone heard of this? Is that even possible?? I mean, I know you can twist off a driveshaft in the mud (been there, done that) but can an axle bend/bow?
I always thought something else would break before that kinda torque was exterted on the axle..

Anyway, they want to replace that and the right rear fittings and bearing.. What do you think, should I let em?

Almost there.. The truck does sound MUCH better though..

Thanks all!

[vballfun]

Originally Posted by vtmecheng

I have a 95 S10 pickup w/ 4.3Z, 5-spd., and 4X4. Sounds like same noise I hear. Had mine on a lift and checked the U-joints and rear deferential but they were good. Noise seems to be coming from clutch/transmission/transfer case area. It has been doing the noise for almost 40,000 miles so I am not going to worry much about it.

On my blazer the noise I had in reverse and at 55mph turned out to be the transmission.. so $2300 later no noise and it works correctly..

one of the gears was going bad and the torque convertor was shredded.
It made that noise for quite some time.. almost 2 years (so. about 35,000 miles) and finally this fall it gradually got harder and harder to back up until it got the the point where I had to only park in spots that I knew I could pull forward to leave. So had to bite the bullet and pay for the tranny rebuild (and new convertor)

Hopefully if that is what your sound is from you have some time to start 'preparing' (saving) for that costly repair.

-Tim

[BlazerLT]

Change the U-Joints, you cannot check them from the outside.