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Old 01-19-2018, 06:59 PM
DangerFX4Ranger DangerFX4Ranger is offline
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Default Clunk heard when shifting from reverse to drive, vibration felt around 55-70mph

06 FX4 extended cab, automatic, 193k miles. I've been noticing a clunk sound when shifting from reverse to drive. The clunk is heard a tad when going to reverse but louder when going into drive. I know there is a TSB out for Rangers with the 2-piece driveshaft (which I have) so I know that can be a possibility, as well as perhaps worn out U-joints as well.

From inside the truck, it sounds like the noise is coming from the rear which is what makes me think of that TSB since it regards a clunking noise but the noise is only heard when going into gear, not when taking off from a stop. Although when I AM taking off from a stop I hear a squeaking noise at low speeds, maybe around 5-10mph, and then that goes away.

So should I try the TSB first and see if that fixes the clunking, or should I do U-joints as well in the off chance they can be contributing to it as well? They have not been serviced/replaced since I've owned the truck so who knows when and IF they've been replaced. Apparently a symptom of worn U-joints is low speed squeaking so I might get them both done at once.

Now for the vibration, I feel it around 55mph and a bit at 60 then it kind of tapers off at 70mph as I'm highway cruising. When I take off cruise control and coast down to say get off on an exit the vibration comes back around 60mph. I have suspicion that it could be something as simple as the tires needing to be re-balanced or have air added.

IIRC I added air to the tires in the summertime (set the pressure to 40psi, did not re-balance at that pressure) and currently in Virginia it has been in the 30s and I believe you lose/gain 1psi of air for every 10 degrees. So if it is something like that, would it make sense to add air to my tires if needed, knowing as the weather warms up it'll raise my tire pressure too?

I know this is all a bit to read but I want this nipped in the bud as soon as I can without having to go through a lengthy/pricey process of elimination. Thanks in advance!
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Old 01-19-2018, 09:17 PM
99Ranger376 99Ranger376 is offline
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Default Re: Clunk heard when shifting from reverse to drive, vibration felt around 55-70mph

Sounds like you have got a few things going on, could be a tire out of ballance, however if it’s more of a rumble then a wobble the vibration could be caused by the drive shaft . It’s hard to explain in writing but you can definitely feel the difference between a driveshaft out of balance and a tire. As for the clunk when shifting, the trans could be in need of a fluid and filter change, valve bodies getting gummed up can cause hard shifting.


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2011 Ranger XLT 4x4 3.73 8.8" Trac-lok #1 T-bars, K -springs, LineX bedliner, General Grabber AT2's, Tonnopro tri-fold, CoverKing Realtree AP seat covers, OEM pre-keys, axle spacers, Bilstein 4600's, Hellwig AAL. Ziebart Undercoat
'98 Ranger XLT 2WD (sold)
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Old 01-19-2018, 11:01 PM
DangerFX4Ranger DangerFX4Ranger is offline
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Default Re: Clunk heard when shifting from reverse to drive, vibration felt around 55-70mph

When I peeked under the truck, I did notice wetness around the tailshaft flange of the transfer case where the yoke would be. Further up where the actual transmission is mated to the engine I also saw wetness on the rear of the oil pan. Hard to tell if it was maybe something like a rear main seal or perhaps from the transmission. I also have to check the color of the transmission fluid. I doubt it has ever been serviced. The transmission shifts fine through all the gears, no flares or shunting so I'd rather leave that alone for now. I honestly think it's the u-joints/driveshaft that are causing the clunking sound. And since you said it may be more of a rumbling feeling, I think I could describe the feeling as that, a rumbling vibration.
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Old 01-20-2018, 02:58 PM
Undrstm8ed Undrstm8ed is offline
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Default Re: Clunk heard when shifting from reverse to drive, vibration felt around 55-70mph

Do you feel it in the body/floor of the vehicle more or through pedals and steering? And not to sound silly but, I assume this is all on level ground, not in a driveway on an incline at all?
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  #5  
Old 01-21-2018, 03:38 PM
DangerFX4Ranger DangerFX4Ranger is offline
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Default Re: Clunk heard when shifting from reverse to drive, vibration felt around 55-70mph

Regardless if the truck is on a slope or on flat ground, it makes the clunk sound going into drive. Even if I put it in neutral and then go to drive it makes the clunk sound but not when going to reverse, at least not as audible.

As for where I feel the vibration, around 50-55mph I feel it more in the floorboard and seat and then it tapers off at 65-70mph. If I gently rest my hand on the steering wheel or my foot on the pedals I feel vibration, more in the pedals. I noticed today that my front tires are feathering a bit on the outside but that may just be because they're due to be rotated as the rear tires are smooth on the outer treads. I'm unsure if I should go through a process of elimination by starting with the cheapest service like rebalancing the tires and setting the pressure because I don't want a u-joint breaking on the highway, but that's probably just the "what ifs" making me overthink.
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Old 01-27-2018, 06:55 PM
DangerFX4Ranger DangerFX4Ranger is offline
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Default Re: Clunk heard when shifting from reverse to drive, vibration felt around 55-70mph

So I took the truck in Tuesday to get the oil changed and tired rotated, also having them air the tires to 35psi and balance them to see if that would affect the vibration at all. It helped a bit at highway speeds but that's all. Around 30-35mph the vibration grows stronger, then fading away again but if I'm driving and am partially on the throttle so I'm not quite on the gas and not quite coasting, the vibration becomes worse.

Also, looking underneath, the rear u-joints are full of rust and I also noticed where the rear output shaft is of the transfer case, there is wetness. Now so bad that it's leaving drops on the ground but its weeping. This makes me more sure that it's the u-joints causing the vibration and why the output shaft seal is weeping from the vibration.

Now looking at how much the u-joints are, they're pretty cheap but it's the labor costs I'm not sure of. at the place I go to get my work done, 1 hour of labor is $125, and I wouldn't think it would take very long at all to drop a driveshaft and replace the u-joints, would it?
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Old 01-28-2018, 04:02 PM
99Ranger376 99Ranger376 is offline
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Default Re: Clunk heard when shifting from reverse to drive, vibration felt around 55-70mph

I recommend replacing the u-joints and changing the transmission fluid and filter


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2011 Ranger XLT 4x4 3.73 8.8" Trac-lok #1 T-bars, K -springs, LineX bedliner, General Grabber AT2's, Tonnopro tri-fold, CoverKing Realtree AP seat covers, OEM pre-keys, axle spacers, Bilstein 4600's, Hellwig AAL. Ziebart Undercoat
'98 Ranger XLT 2WD (sold)
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