Hello everyone. I'm Brian. Have 2010 Ranger 4.0 4x4. Love my truck. I've got very interesting sound going on. Intermittent drive train rattle can sound. The sound usually starts a few minutes after driving and it is not consistently present. Usually starts up again after driving from stop. Seems to speed up and slow down with rpms. Sounds like a loose gear inside a box, like rotational rubbing/clanking on the teeth of a large gear. This seems to be in the area of AT, Front D or TC. This recording was from drive side foot area. I was thinking also possible drive shaft bearing or front drive shaft CV. The sound has been increasing over several weeks of limited driving under 50mph. This recording was between 10-30 mph. Seems very distinct sound. The engine and transmission seem very smooth. Perhaps you have experience with this sound. I checked whl bearings and front axles already and looks good. I'm living in my truck. Work in forestry. Any help is life saving.

 

Not sure if my video file uploaded?

 

Welcome to the forum

To see if its a drive train or engine noise, get up to a speed you can hear the noise and shift to Neutral and coast, engine RPMs will drop to idle
If noise is from drive train it shouldn't change, if its from engine then it will change as RPMs drop

The front drive shaft propeller joint makes a "tick" noise when its failing, and is speed related not engine RPM related


The elephant in the room is the 4.0l SOHC timing chain tensioner issues
This "rattle" noise would be engine RPM related
These tensioners need to be changed every 100k miles or they can fail and that causes a timing chain guide to break, which causes the noise, and damage done
So if this is NOT the source of the noise, and you are at or over 100k miles I would change these now

 

First Thank you for your help.
I put the truck up on all 4s and got her rolling. Got under the truck to inspect. The phone video was very helpful in isolating the sounds. The distinct rattle can noise is loose worn propeller shaft cv. There is obvious noise and vibration in the rearward shaft into the propeller CV.

No chain slap or rattle on the engine timing. I change oil every 3k miles. Religiously.

I ordered the propeller shaft rebuild kit from 1A Auto. Seems Ranger owners are happy with the kit. Good info online showing removal and installation.

Tomorrow I will be replacing the frt diff right axle seal and changing out my diff gear oil. Note: National Oil Seal 710428. It's the one that actually meets OE. 2.5 inch socket for the install.

 

I took the front drive shaft off the truck. Easy to do. It's better to drive it without a bad shaft attached. Mark ur universal joints. Pulled the shaft forward over the exhaust between the transmission. I had to loosen the heat shield to get enough clearance to pull out the CV end of the shaft. Taped the Ujoint bearing caps to prevent them falling off. Tomorrow I will take the the old joint off the shaft splines and clean it up. New CV should arrive in a few days. Truck is now 2wd and drives real smooth without that crunchy CV on there. This is definitely a repair most people can do at home. Didn't even have to jack up the truck. Peace.