"Clunk" on takeoff

[melmount]

Just remove the four 8mm bolts holding it in at the rear pinion(you may have straps, 2 of them) . The front driveshaft can stay in. If you want that out, you also have to remove the carrier bearing and its 2 (i believe 15mm) bolts. You may need to tap the rear driveshaft forward a bit to get it free from the rear pinion yoke. (or pry bar) Then once thats loose you can slide it back.

[kinghawg98]

really you shouldnt be doing it.

It may not be a simple driveshaft issue-- Do you notice a clunk or noise when you let off the go pedal while cruising down the freeway?

Did it just start or is this a since you've had the truck problem?

[Crpssfire]

I just removed the 4 bolts on the rearend holding the driveshaft along with cutting off the metal bands that hold on the rubber boot at the joint. Then smacked the shaft with a hammer a couple of times at the rear end. It came loose. The shaft actually can slide forward a bit on the splines to help get it off which was a suprise to me. Made it alot easier to get back on also because of that.

[uga33]

Originally Posted by jascott

Is the clunk felt when stopping as well? (Just before you come to a complete stop)
What about when taking your foot off the brake to start up? Does it sometimes clunk then as well?

I have all these symptoms and my dealer has been unable to duplicate the problem three times now. They said that they lubed the slip joints, but I couldn't tell anything had been taken apart, etc....

I love the truck, but this is driving me crazy. 23k miles doing it now...

I was having this same issue with my 06. At about 40k miles it developed a clunk at takeoff from a stop then it got progressively worse until it would do it coming to a stop also. Last week it started getting to the point where I couldn't ignore it anymore. So, I went and picked up $70 worth of rear end fluid and figured while I was under the truck I would check to see once more if it was something simple. Well, I found that my leaf springs were shot. They were so far gone in fact that I could lay on my back and push the tire back and forth and the springs looked like they were doing the wave . This was causing a huge amount of axle wrap and every time the truck would torque up when I took off from a stop or down when coming to a stop, it would cause my clunk. I was able to acquire springs off an E-450 ambulance and put them on the truck yesterday. Problem solved . Sorry for it being so long, so in short, check your leaf springs.

[nccatfan]

All of what has been said sounds plausible, but have you even checked the U-joints yet? They should have ZERO play. Try a turning motion (back and forth with trans in neutral) on the shaft while watching the U-joints. Any play that can be seen will mean time for a new u-joint. It's a cheap, easy fix.

[jascott]

I do not notice anything while the truck is moving. I only feel this when the truck stops and starts. It is even noticable if I am stopped and I take my foot off the brake, but haven't given it any throttle yet. I figured it wouldn't hurt to make sure the slip joint is greased as others have said it cured their issue. I've had the dealer look at it three times and they can't duplciate it. The last time they said they lubed the slip joing, but it doesn't look like has been removed or had the straps cut on the boot.

It has done it pretty much since new.

Originally Posted by kinghawg98

really you shouldnt be doing it.

It may not be a simple driveshaft issue-- Do you notice a clunk or noise when you let off the go pedal while cruising down the freeway?

Did it just start or is this a since you've had the truck problem?

[jascott]

The truck did this new, so I don't think the leaf springs are bad and I would hope the u-joints are still good w/ 23k on the truck... I'll try all these suggestions.

[melmount]

A u joint can be bad from day one.
Could have a loose caliper or broken bolt on one end of it.
The front slip joint could need greasing too if its a 4wd.
The sway bar links are a famous noise clunk maker. I found that the body mounts under drivers and pass feet can clunk too.
Does it have anything to do with turning the wheel? Just accelerating or stopping kind of deal?

[jascott]

Turning the wheel has no impact. I thought about the brake caliper bolts sticking...

[melmount]

i had an excursion that every time i hit the brakes the 2 body mounts clunked. But probably not your issue. If the track bar is not real tight. It will clunk. Thats a fact.