When i accelerate it sounds like someones banging on pots and pans in the rear of my 91 ranger. Someone told me its the universal joint. I think I may need a new differential? I dont know what to do. Is this a serious problem? My truck is lowered 6" in the back so the angle of the axle looks funny. Maybe that has something to do with it. The truck runs and feels fine, it's just the loud noise is starting to get annoying.

 

The best way to find out is to put the rear axle up on jack stands and get under it while someone puts it in gear. DON'T let them race the engine, all you have to do is put it in gear. You should be able to hear and see if it's the rear end or U joints.

Don't get under it without jack stands.

 

Hi, i did that and actually punched the gas and it didn't it make the noise!

 

What happens if you put it in gear and turn one wheel? Does it make noise then?

Have you tried putting it in neutral and turning the drive shaft and feeling if it has slop or feels rough as it moves?

You could have chipped or broken teeth in the rear end.

You may have to keep one wheel from rotating and start it up. Be very careful if you do that. If your emergency brakes work you may be able to pull on one cable to stop one side.

your profile don't say standard or automatic. Don't do any tests by yourself. Have someone that has a cool head to help you.

 

When in neutral, the drive shaft does have a little play in it when i rotate it back and forth (the truck is standard Trans.) When i'm driving the noise goes away after i start to gain speed. Its only really noticable in first and second gear. Once your goin fast it goes away

 

i think i know what it is..


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HAHA Ihad this on my old Dodge and it drove me nuts.
Ended up it was a balancing weight that was welded to the brake drum had rusted off and flopping around between the drum and the tire rim.When going slow it made an awful racket up to about 20 mph.Centrifugal force held it against the rim at higher speeds.

 

What's your pinion angle like with the 6" of drop?

 

Can we assume, for the sake of argument, that there are no person or persons, known or unknown to you, inhabiting the back end of your truck, harboring a bevy of pots and pans?

 

Loose lugnut trapped inside a center cap?

 

haha You serious? That sounds like a past experience...details please

 

I would take a really good look at your universals, especially if the pinion angle wasn't corrected when u lowered the truck

 

I also noticed today when I lifted the truck that both wheels have play in them. if your faceing the rim and push and pull theres some play. It doesnt seem normal and i think i'm just going to buy a whole new rear end. What do you guys think?

I think the gears inside the differential are worn out or something.

Oh and the universal joints seemed solid and didnt make any noise when i disconected the axle from the differential. There wasnt any loose feel or play in the tranny or axle.

 

There shouldn't be any play in the wheels. I don't think you should have to change out the whole axle. Maybe just the axle shafts themselves, don't really know hopefully someone else will chime in on this.

 

Friends Chevy had this happen to it.