My 97 with the 5 speed and gearsplitter that i recently purchased seams to have more slop in the drive train than i like. I am just talking about in 2wd. i have to be careful when shifting so that it doesnt clunk. the u joints look good. is there any good way to tell where it is coming from? I plan on jacking up the back and turning one wheel and looking for the play with it in gear. transfer case ? gear splitter ?? It works fine i am just picky.

 

I have the same issues with my truck I've gotten used to it, but the other day my friend drove it and it was bucking and clunking the whole time. I'm curious to see what may cause it.

 

I remember reading about driveline clunk in a magazine, they explained it as the pinion loading and unloading. When you think about it, it makes some sense, because when you accelerate, the force is going down on the ring gear teeth, and when you decelerate, it shifts to the top of the teeth. When you think of the forces involved, it certainly could clunk a bit. Just my thoughts on the issue BTW, mine does it a bit, too.

 

Mine clunks too - U joints are new. If it is just gear backlash - I may get bored one weekend and go in and toghten up some of that 279,000 mile backlash that is likely up over 10 thousandths, probably way over that...

 

Attached is a pic of one of my countershaft bearings, as you can see it is ugly. Make sure the slop is not in the transmission itself.

I had noticable driveline slop and first thought it was a u joint or pinion lash, then it started sounding really ugly.

Easiest way to tell, remove one of the PTO plates, and with a pry bar, gently try to move the countershaft (lower of the 2) back and forth. These are tapered roller bearings and should have little to no play in them.