Mocho

My problem started about 2 weeks ago. I'd say almost half the time i'm stopping in N I will hear/feel a faint clunk from under the truck. Never happens if I am in gear and downshifting. Doesn't seem to matter if I am stopping very slowly or lock up the brakes. No noise when turning slowly, no noise over bumps. This weekend I jacked up each front tire and spun it both ways, no noise or anything. Visual inspection of all U-joints look ok (not that I really know how to tell that well). No noise at 70 MPH either. Only tried putting it in 4WD until about 30 MPH, but no noise there either. So I think it has to be the front axle U-joints? The truck has 80k on it, the last 9k miles with atleast 35" MT's and 6" lift, I bought it at 55k, so I don't know if anything has been done to the front end but it didn't look like any new parts when I got it.

Also today when I was pulling out of the parking lot when turning I got a weird feel. I SWARE my passenger rear tire clipped the car beside me type of feel. It felt so much like it I had to get out and look, even though there wasn't a car near me, the wheel was cranked and something must of binded temporarly? I'm also getting minor sqeeking at low speeds, but that is hard to tell what it's from because my rear shock mounts aren't the right ones, and my aluminum sled deck rattles and makes quite a bit of noise. I am also getting a bit of a squek when taking off, until about 20 MPH. Also a bit of shudder sometimes, but I am positive that's my clutch going, because it is acting up to

Also i'm sure it's just a coinsidence but the weekend before I noticed this happening I pulled my buddies boat, and back it into the boat launch. The rear diff was in water maybe 1/3 up the cover, for a minute. I doubt this has anything to do with it but though i'd mention it. I didn't check the fluid yet, but will asap.

Any ideas? I am on a very big time crunch because i'm back in school, i'd like to fix this next weekend but i've only got one day to figure out what it is and fix it.

bushusmarine

my front drivers side u joint went and it as about the same symptoms you have. i pulled the axle shaft out and the u joint had no play but wouldnt bend on one of the pivots (seized) i guess its cause they are non-greasable.

Mocho

Did you have any way to tell which side? If one is bad I will do them both, but probably only have time for one side a weekend, and would like to do the bad side first. My bro just replaced his because he had a vibration, but U-joints nor ball joints cured it. I just don't want to replace them and still have the problem, it is a lot of time and a decent amount of coin to replace them with good greaseable ones.

bushusmarine

LOL honestly i put it in first in a prking lot, let it idle along and i listend for which side was squeaking. i am sure there i probably safer way.

bushusmarine

sorry maybe that wasnt clear enough, i got out and walked beside it while it was rolling,

Mocho

LOL probably. But really, i've idled it along with both windows down, everything off and I can't hear anything. I would think i'd get SOMETHING. Maybe I will have to find a big parking lot and try that hah.

But I guess if it is axle U-joints for sure, I want to replace both sides anyway so it's not that big of deal.

Mocho

Well replaced both front axle u-joints, nope they were finished though, pulled front driveshaft, it is fine, noise still there My only though is rear driveshaft, the u-joints look ok though? Anyone got any ideas? I am sick of throwing parts at the problem. If I can't find it soon I am just going to keep driving it until it gets bad enough I can figure it out or something blows up. So sick of all the problems I am having with the truck lately, can't even drive with my windows down because of all the frickening noises

The problem is something that is rotating. If I stop faster the clunking seems to come faster and later, then a regular stop if that makes sense.