im pretty sure my ring and pinion are shot, its been making a clang/ clunk sound since i got it when it downshifts, and shifting from park to drive/reverse (but not all the time).

I would just like to verify with someone else that a junk yard rear axle is in order before i go buy one.

this is where the drive shaft meets the rear diff. with tranny in neutral, e brake on. twisting the drive shaft by hand. seems pretty bad to me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=594OLhXrLmM

 

Looks to be about normal to me... You would have to open it up and check the contact patch to know for sure.

 

Seems fine to me, both my jimmy's have as much as that also.

 

bummer, thought i had found the clunk. its driving me nuts.

thought it might be the rear because the joints are fine, and it also does it after coasting and a sudden jab to the gas. * KlanK*

lol, maybe i might have to name this blazer KlanK.

 

It is quite possible that it is the source of the noise, but other than the noise, there should be no other adverse effects provided the gear contact inside is proper.

 

I changed the oil in the front and rears to synthetic 80 - 90 about 8 months ago hoping it would get rid of that noise. I dont know what the proper contact is, but when i had the rear cover off i took a look at them and they were not pitted or chipped or anything.

I really need to stop that clunk. it makes me paranoid like no other.

 

You have that play in the rear which also means that same amount of play must be in your transfer case as well....How does the output shaft look at the TC. No leaks or anything right?

It IS 12 years old, probably just a little drivetrain slop through all the components adding up to give that noise.

Idles is not set too fast is it? That would exacerbate the issue.

 

nope, no leaks anywhere at all. fluid is full and was changed recently (6,000 miles ago). idle is at 500 warm, 900 or 1000 cold. The u joints look like the stock ones , but there is no play in them at all. tranny mount seems solid too

it actually doesnt clunk as loudly or as much when shifting in and out of gears at a stop as it does after a coast and jab to the gas or downshift at random speeds. thats the part that makes me paranoid.


really at this point im about to take it out and tear the **** out of it until whatever it is breaks. HAHA !