Rear End

[The Grebe]

Okay, all jokes aside, I have a rather unique problem that even the mechanic I regularly use cannot seem to solve?

There is about 4 inches of play in the rear end of my 98 Ford Ranger 4x4. When I take off there is a clunk when the rear end moves up and a clunk when it drops back into place?

It has one shock in front of the rear end and one to the rear. The mechanic/s said that the only thing he/they can figure out is that the shocks are weak?

Anyone ever have, or hear of this problem before? Any remedies that you know of?

[Scott K]

I would remove the drive shaft and see how much play is in the pinion of the rear diff. Then if this is a 2wd, or extended cab, it can either be a couple different things, if it is a 2wd, and the drive shaft slides into the tranny instead of bolting to it, the splines them selves bind, remove the drive shaft and lube the splines with teflon greese. If it is a 2 piece drive shaft, then were the 2 pieces slide together, the splines bind there as well, remove mark each piece to align them back up exactly where they were, and seperate them and clean and lube with teflon greese.

[Jeremy airjer W]

I have seen that on about about 10 or 700 rangers. I have never had anybody concerned enough with it to have it fixed nor have I ever inquired enough into it to figure out what is wrong with it or if there is anything wrong with it,

[fishing tech]

Yep, lube the splines.

[efgh]

Are you sure there is that much ply in the rear end, on my truck the spring shackles were loose and allowed the whole axle to rotate, this acted like a lot of play in the pinion and ring gear. Could be a busted spring too.

[The Grebe]

My mechanic told me that some up and down movement in the rear end is pretty normal. He checked all the obvious stuff, springs shackles, etc.

[The Grebe]

I'm going to pass this information along to him and see what comes of it? If he doesn't have an answer of his own,this answer is as good as any! Thanks. I'll repost for sure, if and when the problem is rectified.

[Shack]

I am also not grasping the "4 inches of play". Are you talking about sliding the d-shaft forward and back? Or rotating the tire back and forth when the truck is lifted (one point to another point and measure) or twisting the drive shaft till it grabs from stop to stop? 4 inches of play anywhere in a driveling would render the vehicle useless or at least make some awesome metallic noises.

Yes, Scott nailed the Ranger drive-line clunk scenario and repair. It happened to most Rangers produced from 98-2005. Ford had a TSB on this, which 4WE is referring to:

Scott mentioned Teflon but I have had good luck snipping the OEM clamps off, pulling the boot back, lubing with hi-temp grease and using thin hose clamps or C/V boot style split clamps to seal the boot back up. This is so you do not have to remove anything. Just pack the grease in the splines and lube it up really good.

You should be able to right click on the above images, save them and print them off or forward to your mechanic via e-mail. I believe this the the latest/last TSB. If not it will just say the same thing.

[The Grebe]

Not pretending to be any kind of an automechanic, I couldn't say about the 4" of play, maybe he just grabbed a number for empithus? But I think this might be exactly what we are looking for. I'm going to bring the diagram to him tomorrow. Thank you.

[The Grebe]

Thanks to everyone! I took the Ranger in today (First I called the Ford Dealer to make sure it wasn't in on a recall)and my mechanic did what you guys said and 'Presto' no more clunking. I think a couple of old dogs learned some new tricks! Thanks again boys.