REAR END CLUNK!

[Chadahootchie]

I have been noticing a clunk when i put my truck in drive or reverse. I did see my pinion moving up when it makes the noise. I know its probly not a good thing but do I need to tighten my pinion nut more or are the pinion bearings shot. Also there is no play in the gears.

[Chadahootchie]

bump!TTTTTTTT

[benderado]

I'd say your pinion bearing is shot but i would check the u-joints first. How do you know there is no play in the gears?

[bigcountrysg]

Are you sure it is the pinion that is moving up and down. I would be inspecting the u-joints first. As they are easier to replace then the pinion.

If there is no wear or damage to the pinion gear and ring gear. Then I doubt it is the pinion bearings being bad.

I would be more apt to remove the drive shaft and inspect the u-joints. Also while the driveshaft is out. Grab the yoke on the rear diff. Pull it up and down, in and out. If there is a lot of play then yes your pinion bearings could be bad.

[Chadahootchie]

I know I need to replace the u joint cause the sweek under load. I can see the pinion move up slightly when it clunks or I should say pops. I had someone put it drive.

[Ryan Rønning]

I would say it is most likley the U-joint!

[bigcountrysg]

Originally Posted by Chadahootchie

I know I need to replace the u joint cause the sweek under load. I can see the pinion move up slightly when it clunks or I should say pops. I had someone put it drive.

The movement your seeing could be from the bad u-joint. If you know the u-joint is bad then replace it. As they only cost 15 dollars.

While the driveshaft is out, you can grab a hold of the yoke on the rear diff. See if there is a lot of play in it. That will tell you if that bearing is good or not.


A bad pinion bearing is going to cause damage to the ring and pinion gear. It will also cause excess play in the gears as well. Which could result in a complete rebuild of the rear end.

[Chadahootchie]

yea i guess so. I mean there is none to very little play in gears. The reason of concern is I thought I saw the drive shaft make a little extra rotation while power braking it and thought I might need to do something about it. But not to much damage can be do if there's no play in the gears. But the rear end probably don't like those 38's either.

[bigcountrysg]

Originally Posted by Chadahootchie

yea i guess so. I mean there is none to very little play in gears. The reason of concern is I thought I saw the drive shaft make a little extra rotation while power braking it and thought I might need to do something about it. But not to much damage can be do if there's no play in the gears. But the rear end probably don't like those 38's either.

You have 38's on your truck. So that means there is a lift. When the lift was installed was the driveline angle corrected. If not that will eat up u-joints.

So you need to replace the u-joints and check the driveline angle.

[Chadahootchie]

Yea ill replace the u joint since the ones that are in it arnt greasable. The drive angle is perfect if anything I should put a shem to angle down the pinion a little, the driveshaft is straight off the axle. The shackle flip made it perfect.