I have a 2000 Ford Ranger 4x4 180k miles. drive back and forth from home to work which is about 80 miles one way. So today was on my way home and my ranger clunked on the driver side and started to make a squeaking noise, drove for abit and it felt like a freewheel for few seconds in the front then the wheels "re-engaged", hen i got home and at the stop light i could hear a squeak still, turned left and it clunked again like something fell into place. Fluids at capacity,i just changed the passenger side cv joint. no noticeable vibration. Trying to figure out what the problem is. my only vehicle. haha still too cold in northern Az to ride my bike to work.

 

Welcome to the foum

Manual or automatic trans?

Were you driving in 4high or 2WD?

Do you have PVH(pulse vacuum hubs) or Manual hubs on the front?

Or Live Axle, no "hubs" just a large Nut holding axle to wheel?

 

Auto and was in 2wd. Have a live axle. I replaced the driver side cv which got rid of the squeaking and the clunking noise. Now its making a weird whooshing sound that sounds like a helicopter when its blades start rotating. I talked to a few guys and they all said it may be the wheel bearings. Checked my tire and it had a bit of play in it when I jacked it up. So now replacing the hub assembly to see if that fixes it.

 

The rear propeller joint on front drive shaft was a know "squeak" point on Rangers and Explorers

The "freewheeling" and "re-engage" part doesn't fit though, for 2WD

 

Replaced the drover cv joint which got rid of the vibrations. And replaced the driver hub assembly which got rid of the other noises. Problem is fixed for now. Im going to be on the safe side and replace the passenger hub assembly too and take a look at the propeller joint like you mentioned. Might as well while I'm working on her anyway. Thanks for the advice.

 

Good work

Thanks for the update and FIX