dirtrider250

So driving my 93 3.0 4x4 it feels like a bad u joint. Let off the gas .clunk. get back on, clunk, again. So I checked the U-joints there all good. Sitting under the truck with it out of gear you can twist the drive line about two inches. So two inches of play. I thought worn spider gear? so I take out the third member. The pinion and ring gear look fine. Theres hardly any backlash. So now my question is where is that play coming from. Keep in mind that I know hardly anything about rear ends.

devendwayne

How about wheel bearing? Have you tried rocking the wheel side to side when its up off the ground?

tc

How did you check the ujoint?

You need to really pry on it with some force - just wobbling it by hand isn't enough

dirtrider250

Not really but I'm sure I would of noticed it when I was taking the tires off. ???

devendwayne

maybe, but there usually isnt a lot of slop in it. I would recommend checking them, doesnt take long at all, plus it will be something you can eliminate as a problem. Also, compare both sides to each other.

retrospect

I was having the same problem last week, minus the large amount of play in the driveline. But try replacing the carrier bearing or center support bearing. Mine was toast and i could lift the driveshaft and wiggle it about an inch in all directions. Now that its replaced i dont get the braking or acceleration "clunk."

dirtrider250

I don't think the u joint is the issue since there is that much play is the rear end?

dirtrider250

I just wanted to add the problem is definitely not it the u-joints. The shaft going into the 3rd member is solid. I check the driveline on my buddys truck in neutral you could barley move the driveline. Mine you can twist about a quarter turn. But to reiterate I took out the carrier and the gears are sound.

Mcy17

My 86 4x4 does the same thing. I'm hoping U joints will fix it.

Matt16

I think I'd be frightened to google "mystery rear end play"