ok so i have a 1990 4x4 toyota pickup
when i take off on first gear it sometimes does this loud "ping" sound
and it rarely does it on second gear. i was wondering if i buy a new drive shaft will that noise stop? i already greased all that needs to be greased on the driveshafts etc.. idk what else to do..

 

one ping or does it keep doing it? I would say u joints from the little description you give

 

yes it does just one ping [when it begining to take off]it also does it in reverse.

so should i get new u joints? or ..

 

im pretty sure its one of the ujoints, get under there and grab the rear driveshaft and try turning it (when its in park or in gear) and see if one of the u joints is sloppy.

 

x 2

Ill bet anything...

 

Yup ujoints, mine made the exact same sound.

 

U-joint, or excessive backlash in the rear diff. The "ping" sound resonates through the hollow driveshaft, which makes it sound louder. If you take a hammer and tap the driveshaft, you'll probably hear the same sound. You just have to figure out the source of the clunk that causes that resonating ping sound. Check the flanges on the rear diff and transfer case (where the driveshaft bolts onto) for looseness, and check for a lot of rotational play of the driveshaft with the tranny in neutral and the rear wheels on the ground (that would signify excessive backlash in your rear diff).

Don't spend the money on a new driveshaft. That's not likely your problem (unless there is excessive rotational play within your slipjoint... which would also likely lead to vibration at high speed, so you'd know if you had that problem).

 

Did you ever figure this out I'm having the same problem but my u joints are all tights??