Driveline Slack

[808bronco]

Okay, I've got a '96 Bronco and recently it's developed some slack in the drive line. When I'm driving around town and stop at a light or something, when I let off the brake and hit the gas, the drive "clanks" and jerks the car a little before it starts moving.

Also, when I park, if I'm on a hill or something, the car rolls forward a couple inches. Also, it does this in both 4WD and 2WD.

What could be causing this? I checked the U-joints in the rear drive shaft, and they seem to be solid. I checked the front as well (I'm changing the rotors right now), and the u-joints there are okay too.

So, a friend mentioned that his F-250 did this before and it was a bearing in his transfer case that needed replacing. I haven't gotten much more elaboration from him, but I wanted to know what you guys think. Could it be something in the transmission?

If it IS something like that in the transfer case, how hard is that to fix?

 

[Justshootme84]

I had a similar problem on my 84 when I first bought it, and the slack WAS in the rear driveshaft. Have a friend put the tranny in forward and reverse, engine running, while you watch the driveshaft for any movement. You can't always feel the slack in Park. That slack may be in one of the u-joints. or the double-cardan joint, or even in the slip joint where the two shaft sections come together. IF that checks out O.K., and you still have the "clunk" in both 2WD and 4WD, there is a bearing in the rear output shaft of the t-case that may be worn. It can also be slack in the rear axle, but you can feel that in Neutral.

 

[martin6fan001]

Will you let me know what you find out. I have a 95 and i am having the same problems. I have had a anew rearend put in, the transfer case rebuilt, new u-joints and still have the same noise. It is very frustrating!

 

[808bronco]

I'll let you know how things go. I still need to get under the car and watch the driveline as the transmission is engaged. Maybe put it up on jackstands all around so the wheels are off the ground and I won't need to worry about getting my ass run over. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

But I'm not going to do that until I get my ABS issue worked out. Anyone know of a good way to fully press the inner grease seal onto the spindle? The shop installed the inner bearing seal for me, but I don't have the right tool to get the inner grease seal all the way on. I was going to try tapping it in with a drift, but the metal used in the seal is WAY too soft. Got any tips for me?