I thought I'd ask for advice. A freind of mine who graduated with me, and his truck is up at the U of MN in the Twin Cities,MN.
He has a Reg (I think) cab, 1997 model 4x4 pickup with 350.
He complains of a loud clunk. Says driveshaft is tight with no play. Maybe something in the rear diff or the transmission. Any ideas?
Thanks,
Mike

Oh where to begin... Does it do it when he puts it in gear, hits a bump, shifts??? If it is when going into gear, slip splines on driveshaft where it goes into t-case could have some play, easy fix, pop off the driveshaft and put a lil grease in there. If when shifting, check tranny mount, motor mount, also check all buchings, torsion bar mounts, anything that could move. hell, it could be a bad exhaust mount. Tell him to get under there and start trying to move anything. A little slop in the drivetrain is normal, and clunking when going into gear may be something really simple. Just gotta check...

you would rule out anything being wrong with the rear diff? remember its a stock truck. But sorry for not being specific, I will ask what gear it clunks.

We need details....man, details.

There is a newly designed front yoke for the rear drive-line (nickle-plated) to fix a "clunk from a standing stop". Thats problably the most common complaint. (Sunshine's geaseed yoke thing also works for a lil' bit, and will help in the diagnostic procces)

Also interfirance between the exhaust and t-case/trans cross member, thats a "clunk" or vibration under hard throttle.

Rear gears are useualy noisie under excell or decell, not useualy a "clunk". Allthough, over-all drivetrain play will increase the chance of a precevied "clunk" when going from a loaded to unloaded state. This is normal, and there should be no attempt to repair.

Replace the U-joints they may feel tight but I bet they are bad

he says it happens when he shifts between drive and reverse, He says it sounds like something in the diff

Possibly a bad U-joint, if so he probably has a repeating-vibration at freeway speeds too. Pull the rear and check it, if it's bad it'll probably have a "detent" like feel to it.

Kinda tuff, if not impossible to diag stuff over the net.

I think everything that has been posted so-far should at-least give you an idea as where to look.