yesterday my truck started to make this clunk in the rear. i kept on driving it got worse and worse so i took it home and tried to dianose the problem. it clunked randomly down the road. it clunks on the left side i got a buddy to listen. drained the diff oil and there were no metal shavings or chunks. so i filled the diff offf aand check the rear drive shaft. and there was a little bit play in the rear u-joint so i repalced that. i then tried to drive the truck without the rear driveshaft and it still clunked down the road. so i took off the brake drum on the left rear and found oil everywhere. so i check the axle for play. and there is a lot of up and down and in and out play. and when i rotate the axle there is a little bit grinding sound and it felt kinda rough. so i took out the axle and turned the backing plate on the axle and it felt rough and grindy. so i now think that the wheel bearing bearings is like flat on one side and when it goes on that flat part the axle shifts in the diff and makes that clunk sound.

 

might as well take a little more time and pull the third. same symptoms I had when I sheared some teeth on the ring gear.

 

Sounds like your bearings got ate up. Pull 'em out and take a look, might want to look in to dropping the 3rd like ocdropzone said.

 

i dropped the third last night and everything looks fine. the left bearing is toast. i put the hub part of the axle on the ground and spin the backing plate. it makes a loud grinding sound and i can make it wobble. so do i have to take it to a shop to take out the bearings or can i do it by myself

 

The right way is to use a press, but you can redneck it with a piece of wood on the ground to protect the axle while you wail on it.

Check 4x4wire for instructions. Or just take the axle shaft down to a shop..