Is it a U-Joint?
 

On the drive to work today I started to regularly hear a clunk. Mostly when letting off the clutch to start rolling from a stop and if I abruptly let off the accel pedal. Also heard occasionally when shifting up thru the gears and the tranny engages.
Got under the truck here at work and wiggled the drive shaft. It does seem to have a little play, but the rear wheels are on the ground, so not sure if there may be more play.
Truck just rolled 200K miles. All original driveline except cluth about 40k ago.\
2002 2wd 5 speed
Thanks

Ok, well, I think I have found the answer. After putting the truck up and turning the drive shaft, the clunking seems to be the spline between the front and rear halves of the drive shaft. Talked to a local diesel repair shop that rebuilds drivelines. He told me that a sligt back lash in these drive shafts are normal, but explaining mine to him, he is pretty sure that is the problem.
Now to remove and take it to him.

Drive shaft removed and to the shop. Midline bearing is SHOT. U-joints all seem good, but have to remove 2 of them to change bearing.

I just did my front cardan joint- was a PITA but only $$ spent was on the joints. (no pun) [laugh]

Got the drive shat back in. Still a little clunking, but not as bad. Shop guy told me it is probably the little bit of play in the diff. that is common.

Went for a drive, with and without trailer. I now am betting on the early signs of a new tranny

What tranny do you have? Have you looked at all the engine and tranny mounts? Also, if you have 4wd then make sure the transfercase bolts are tight to the tranny.

A quick visual, everything LOOKS ok.
Towed the horse trailer this weekend (11,000 lbs) about 180 miles round trip. I am feeling and hearing something in the tranny when I shift. Clutch in, shift out of gear into next gear, hear and feel something like loose/wobbling linkage. Let out clutch pedal and about 50% of the time it sounds and feels as though there is play/slack somewhere.
I have the NV4500 tranny, 2WD.

I think I have similar issues, just feels like there is alot of drive line slack, I don't here a noise, just feel it when I start and between gears some times. I have learned to live with it until I have a chance to do more work on the truck as it is no my DD. I have just over 200k also.

With the shaft out I would have replaced the u-joints. I think mine was 60 bucks for new ones installed.

200K is a lot, my originals as far as I know only went 80K.

If they are the originals they won't have any zerks, this is ok its a stronger joint than ones with them. Look for a rusty stain around the seals and you will know if they are dry and ready to be replaced.

I hope its u-joints and not a trans for you!!

SIXSLUG,
The carrier bearing was bad and replaced. All shaft u-joints were replaced.
Aside from a clutch replace 40 - 50k miles ago, driveline is all original with 201,000 miles.
Syncros? Shifter forks?
Pulls the horse trailer solidly up hills. It's just the shifting and slack that worry me.
Found a few 2010 6.7L's online with 21,000 +/- miles.
New truck or new tranny????

That depends on what you can afford. New tranny would cost in the range of $1500-$3500, depending on vendor and who does the R&R. How many new truck payments, higher insurance payments, higher registration fee's, would it take to equal $1500-$3500? This also depends too on how long you want to drive your truck. The Cummins is good for an indefinite amount of miles as long as its maintained. The Dodge may need more help keeping up with the Cummins and the drive train may need attention too but there's many people out there with a lot of miles on their Dodge Cummins. But its hard to resist a new ride too.[laugh]

KATOOM,
I would love a new truck, but more love not having any payment.

Took the truck to the tranny guy this morning. He heard and felt the noise when shifting, but was more concerned about the excessive amount of slop in the rear diff.
I'll know more later.

For any of the few following this.
Just got off the phone with the tranny shop. Diff is good and tight. Input shaft and bearing, thru the inspection plate, look good. Until he gets it apart, he will not know 100%, but he thinks the (his words), "the center of the clutch is tore out."

Clutch was gone. New HD clutch installed. Holy chit, my leg will get a work-out. Shifts great, no noise and no slack.