starkizer Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 So I was driving along one day, everything is fine.... heard a loud clunk noise from the rear and it felt like someone hit me, so I pulled over and there was nobody around. So I get out and check it all over and see nothing. I get back in the truck and go. not even hardly moving I get this clunk, clunk, clunk, consistant with speed. so I get out again, look it over and nothing again. I drive about 5mph to get it back to the shop I work at and by the time I could see the garage doors I hear another louder clunk and then all is fine. We get it on a lift and check it all out up in the air and nothing! all is normal. So a month or so goes by and I move all the way to Texas. Thats about 800+ miles from home. The truck gets put on a car dolly and pulled behind the Budget truck. Therefor the rear driveshaft was disconnected. Well, I got the driveshaft all hooked back up again today and drove around the block and sure enough, clunk clunk clunk, same as before. I have had all fluid in both diffs changed and the tranny and transfer case fluids changed. Could it be that u-joint? Maybe the driveshaft actually slipping inside the transfer case?????? I sure as heck hope not!!!!!!!! :help: :help: :help: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue88Comanche Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 when you changed the fluid did you check the teeth on the ring and pinion gears? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harley Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 when you changed the fluid did you check the teeth on the ring and pinion gears? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 Did you check the U-joints while you had the drive shaft out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starkizer Posted August 22, 2012 Author Share Posted August 22, 2012 All the gears in the differentials got cleaned and nothing is damaged or anyhting inside the pumpkin. I have NOT changed the rear shaft U-joint. There is nothing I can see by actually looking at it, but yeah... thats normal. Would a U-Joint cause that much trouble? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainman Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 did you grease the U joints? they have little zerk fittings on em. fill em up and see what you get. clunk goes away... time for new U joints. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starkizer Posted August 23, 2012 Author Share Posted August 23, 2012 I am leaning towards the u-joints. I have never changed them, so I guess it wouldnt hurt either way. I hope that takes care of it, It sure seems like thats the cause. They do have greese fittings but you have to take the shaft off to access them anyway. I don't have a greese gun anyway, may as well buy ready to go new ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starkizer Posted August 24, 2012 Author Share Posted August 24, 2012 I just changed the ujoint on the rear, closest to the pumpkin.... still the same noise..... no fluid in rear diff!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harley Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 OOPS! guess somebody forgot something. :rotfl2: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starkizer Posted August 25, 2012 Author Share Posted August 25, 2012 ohhhhh it just got a lot worse.... pulled the cover off the rear diff. luckily I decided to do it right instead of just filling it up. Giant pieces of metal and gears come falling out. Great! Huge piece of gear missing. Thinking at this point it would be more cost effective to swap the whole rear axle rather then change gears, I don't know how to align them and shim them and all that. Anyone have a Danna 33 or 35 or whatever the heck it is floating around they want to sell in the Corpus Christi Area? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harley Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 All the gears in the differentials got cleaned and nothing is damaged or anyhting inside the pumpkin. I have NOT changed the rear shaft U-joint. There is nothing I can see by actually looking at it, but yeah... thats normal. Would a U-Joint cause that much trouble? ummmm, didnt you post earlier that you checked and everything was clean and in good shape? now there is no fluid and they're all busted up. How did all that suddenly change??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starkizer Posted August 26, 2012 Author Share Posted August 26, 2012 I had done all the fluid changes oh 5 or 6 months ago. About a month and a half or so ago was when I heard that first clunk, but it only last for a minute then its been fine this whole time. My only theory now is that somehow when it was being towed here to Corpus the fluid leaked. Then I put the drive shaft back on and went for a drive and with the fluid being low I made the existing problem worse and now I have a lot of work ahead of me. But that's just a theory.... Have no idea why the fluid would have leaked. While towing it was at just the right angle or something. I don't know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harley Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 Thats odd to have a leak like that and not notice. Not sure what gears cost nowadays but about 15 yrs or so ago I blew apart mine on an 87 I had. I got new ones for about $300 IIRC. It might be worth lookin into. Its not a tough job to change em out. Good luck! :cheers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starkizer Posted September 2, 2012 Author Share Posted September 2, 2012 What is easier, changing the gears inside the rear diff or just swaping a whole new axle in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harley Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 To me swapping the gears. but i'm sure some will argue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starkizer Posted September 18, 2012 Author Share Posted September 18, 2012 Looks like everyone (from other threds) is pushing me into getting rid of the stock Dana 35 rear end and doing a complete axle swap. Should be interesting to say the least Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimoshel Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 IMHO changing the gears is easier than the whole rear end. However it does require a little fines and knowledge of what you're doing.Clearances and crush. Swapping the rear end just requires removing bolts. unhooking lines. removing rear end. Installing new RE. Installing previous ly removed bolts and hooking all the lines back up. No fines involved. Just brawn. The D35 isn't as strong as some others but it's not the junk some imply. I have a couple with over 300K on them and their still working. Of course they weren't abused either. If you can get a D44 or 8for a reasonable price then go for it. Otherwise use the D35 and baby it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starkizer Posted September 19, 2012 Author Share Posted September 19, 2012 Yeah everyone is really bashing the D35 telling me to get a 44. I seriously only drive my truck a few miles a day, and never go wheeling. I really don't need the same axle people use to go rock crawling. My truck is not lifted, no 33" tires, nothing like that. I am big into restoration, not overhaulin' Know what I mean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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