I just started hearing this noise that sounds like rocks in my wheel wells, and clanking.

It starts out when i let off the clutch in first gear, i hear a clank noise then its followed by a clanking/rattling noise, that sounds very random. It sounds as though its coming from under the cab, but it hard to pin point an accurate location since im driving. I looked under the truck to see if the heat sheild was rattling, and nothing. I have also got under there and tried to budge the driveshaft to see if the u joints were bad, and they seem to be fine.

ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS...NEED HELP?

 

maybe your ball joints are whacked

 

no, its not a ball joint popping. Its more of a grinding metal, it sounds like there is a pebble in my wheel well rattling.

 

Well you know it's related to the clutch area. You could have broken a piece off the clutch plate and now it's getting tossed around in there.....not a good sign at all.

If you've ever heard a loose heat shield, you'd know what that sounds like and chances are you'd find it pretty quick. Sounds like a clutch that needs some service ASAP.

I had my clutch in my old Shadow grenade on me.....not fun. Sounds like rocks in a blender.

 

If you have an extended cab with a 2-piece driveshaft, possibly the carrier bearing? Just a guess...

 

i let a buddy drive while i listened underneath the truck, it sounds like it may be coming from the driveshaft and rear-end connection, but im not 100% sure on that.

 

STILL TRYING TO PIN POINT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, sorry for the all caps. If you get under the truck and try to lift up on the driveshaft, is there suppose to be any play in the shaft and yoke connection (u joints), or no? and the same thing applies for the driveshaft and rear-end connection?

 

I had the exact same problem. I say exact because that rocks in the wheel wells comment is a perfect description. It lasted 2 days, then the clutch went. That was an hour ago. There goes Memorial Day weekend.

 

Ahh man, that really sucks :-( Sad to hear it happened like that =( And yeah, get your clutch looked at for sure.. unless you can do it yourself.. if you ever hear any noise from anythign vital like that.. especially the transmission.. you gotta get it looked at asap, because things can go boom real quick =(

 

hey. so im fixing the same problem right now. its like the gears arent meshing together grinding sound when you let off the gas in first gear? if it is id say your tranny is on its way out. i heard that noise for 2 days. it started with first gear, then it was in first and second, and then it went to third gear too. when ever i would let off the gas or let the clutch out when down shifting.then my tranny basically blew. i pulled up to a red light only to have to force it into gear and get into the nearest parking lot.. so if your gunna go through all that work to check your clutch, be prepaired for the worst. if its not your clutch and it is your transmission, then id say replace the clutch while your at it, rather then fight with it at a later date down the road. start by checking your transmission fluid. i found somehow my transmission had no oil when i went to drop pull it out. not trying to scare you into the worst but just telling you of my just reecent expierience. my truck isint even fully back together yet from swaping out the transmission and putting in the new clutch.

Oh. PS. my clutch was fully intact no problems no pieces missing or anything. i still replaced it. ive pulled ranger transmissions before and replacing a clutch while you have the oppourtunity will save you from having a big head ache down the road..
just my 2 cents

 

if a rear ujoint is going out....it'll squeek as your starting from a stop......then go away w/speed....or maybe not go away, you can't hear it. that's exactly what mine did.

the clutch components that aren't anything hydraulic, don't usually have any problems other than usual wear on the disc. Check that rear ujoint, strong possibility that it's it. You're probably hearing metal on metal contact that echoing in the driveshaft. "budging" the driveshaft won't tell you if a u-joint is gone.

like what renegade said, prepare for the worst. And if that 'worst case scenerio' happens, and you gotta drop that trans, change the clutch AND slave cyl. them slave cyl's can be a pain from time to time...i'm on #4 right now, and just hit 85k.

 

just to let everyone know, i believe it turned out to be a u joint. I had the u joints replaced saturday morning and havent heard anything since. Hopefully that was it.