Hi guys,

New to the forums! I bought a '99 Ranger 4x4 XLT Off-Road edition Ranger recently to drive during the winter, so I can garage my 2017 Mustang. My Ranger has 251k miles on it, and I'm having an odd issue with the transmission. I noticed it would clunk in low gear when slowing toward a stop, but not always, other times it would clunk after stopping. It then liked to do a similar bang when accelerating from said stop. It never threw the O/D light, so I figured this is normal. I checked the fluid, it was trashed, but at the right level, so obviously there were internal issues. The truck is in excellent shape for its age and mileage, so I took it to a very reputable area transmission shop, they checked it out, and recommended a teardown and rebuild. They found that the clutch discs were trashed, and O/D gears were worn. I have those parts in the bed, and they're definitely shot, haha. They replaced the torque converter, and I believe the solenoids, not 100% positive on those. I got my truck back the other day, and there is a huge difference in how it accelerates, it feels brand new, but that weird bang still exists in basically the same situations. I have noticed, if it clunks on the downshift, it will do it again upon acceleration, and it doesn't always do it. They say the clunk on acceleration is a common complaint from those old Rangers, and that it's normal. Does anybody else experience this clunk when accelerating, or slowing to a stop? If no, any suggestions on what it could be? I checked the fluid today, and it looks like it's fine. I have a 12k mile/ 12 month warranty, so I'm not screwed out of the money. I did notice that I seem to have a leak at the pinion seal area of the differential. Could that be causing the issue? I wouldn't think that would affect the transmission. I'm pretty good with cars, and this one has me really puzzled, haha.

Thanks for any advice!

 

Welcome to the forum

The "Clunk" is either the rear drive shaft U-joint or slip joint, lube the slip joint and change the u-joint

Do the slip joint first, how-to here: https://www.ranger-forums.com/drivet...-sticky-73528/

If clunk is still there then do the u-joints

 

I have a 2001 with a manual. When I accelerate and also take foot off gas abruptly I get a "clang". I'm wondering if we have the same issue here though. Is your noise a clunk or a clang? I feel the same way with mine. It's like for me it starts in my transfercase and clangs down the driveshaft.....lol

 

I'm gonna take a look at that slip joint and the U-joints maybe today. We could possibly have the same issue, it is definitely driveline related, lol. For me, it's really obvious sometimes, other times it's very subtle, or doesn't it doesn't do it at all. When it does happen, I feel the hit in my seat, and it gives off a low pitched sound, almost like the word "doom", and as soon as I re-apply torque to the driveline with the gas pedal, it makes the noise, and I feel it in the seat again. It doesn't seem to be a transmission slip, cuz the torque is there immediately, I just feel that thud in the seat, and hear the sound.

 

This worked like a charm. I finally got around to messing with the slip yoke boot, a few weeks ago, and packed it with blue Valvoline grease for Fords. It cleared the clunk right up! Thanks!

 

Good work

Thanks for the update and the FIX