CLUNK when stopping - rear driveshaft u-joint?

[Stoeger]

I'm getting a "CLUNK" right after coming to a full stop after driving around. It's coming from underneath the truck, middle, maybe near the rear.

Doesn't seem to do it when moving the car around at low speeds in the driveway or parking lot, but happens more often when coming to a stop sign or stop light after some decent speed, like 30 mph. It happen a split second after coming to a full and complete stop, like maybe the driveshaft was till spinning and abruptly came to a stop, or there was some play in there.

Someone mentioned to me that a bad rear axle u-joint could make this sound. It feels tight, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's good, the tolerance is very tight, not usually felt by hand unless it's really bad.

Anyway - Has anyone ever replaced one? (The part is only like $25 at the autoparts store) Do you think something else is causing my CLUNK?

--- 98 Sport, 4x4, Automatic Trans.

[mfayant]

sounds like the tranny to me. Best get it checked out, or be sorry later.

m f

[Stoeger]

I was thinking about the sound a little more... you know when you're pulling a trailer, and you stop and you hear a little "thump" on the ball hitch?

Sounds just like that.

[mfayant]

it possibly can be the driveshaft and the u-joint you can replace by yourself, but it's been a while since I did one by myself, best look under you explorer and see if you can do it. Be safe don't crawl under a vehicle unless its on ramps or blocked up. That skinny jack is holding up thousands of pounds.

m f

[busa_4]

check your tranny mount. check all your suspension bushings. also check your rear brakes. your rear brakes can make a clunking noise when you stop if the shoes are dry and dirty. if you dont have rear brake drums then check your rear emergency brake shoes.

[molehole]

Probably rear brakes. My explorer does that when the brakes are dirty. Clean with some brake clean and see if the sound goes away.
Good Luck

[jcaulk00]

I have a 97 explorer sport that has the same problem when I bought it. I contacted the previous owner and she had the same problem when she traded it in. Ford looked into it and replaced the front brakes thinking that was the problem but wasn't. She also took it to two different transmisson shopes but they couldn't find nothing wrong with the trans. It only does it when its warm out not cold though, but Iam stilling trying to fiqure it out.

[overtime35]

I am a newbie to this site. I found it while trying to find out how to fix the chunk you are talking about. I have a 93 Explorer that does the same thing. I believe what you are hearing is the rear output shaft coming out of the Borg Warner Transfer case. The reason you hear it when stopping is because the rearend of the truck goes up and then down, stretching and contracting the drive shaft. I had someone bounce on the rear bumper while I was under my truck and I could see the output shaft (that connects to the rear drive shaft) moving in and out of the transfer case about an 1/8" and could hear it clunking. I have looked all over for a service manual for this transfer case and had no luck. I have stopped in at Ford dealers only to have them tell me to tighten the nut under the front flange of the rear drive shaft. That didn't work.

There are 3 nylock nuts equally spaced around the shaft that might tighten a thrust bearing or something. I just don't want to tighten them without being sure.

Does anyone have any information about these transfer cases that might help?????

[XLT03]

Probably rear U-joint. If you really want to isolate the problem, assuming that you have a 4X4, remove the rear driveshaft and mid shaft (ie everything behind the transfer case(. Engage the four wheel drive and drive the vehicle. Front axle will be driving (pulling) the vehicle. Stop your vehicle and listen for noise. No noise then it's your mid or rear U-joint. Don't forget to block your wheels so vehicle doesn't roll away from you.

Let us know what happens.