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Weird clunk when in reverse

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Old Apr 20, 2010 | 09:21 PM
  #1  
jeepxj412's Avatar
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From: Shorewood, Il
Year: 1998
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Default Weird clunk when in reverse

My home is on a rather steep hill and I back up the driveway. When I do this I ease on the gas till all 4s are on the driveway, once they are I get on the gas like normal and i hear ONE loud clunk coming from the rear of the Jeep. I dont know if this will help out but I recently, within the past month, changed out my rear brakes. Help please! I'm stumped...
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Old Apr 20, 2010 | 09:35 PM
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Throttle Jockey's Avatar
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look at the rear suspension for any worn or missing bushings. could also be axle wrap due to extreme load in reverse.
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Old Apr 20, 2010 | 10:16 PM
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From: Shorewood, Il
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can you explain to me what axle wrap is and what to look for?
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Old Apr 20, 2010 | 10:27 PM
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axle wrap. the torque of the motor is transfered throught the drive shaft, and into the axle... it causes the axle to try to spin instead of the wheels. your springs stop the axle from spinning and in the process they can slap into each other under heavy initial load

it could also be a U-joint going out
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Old Apr 20, 2010 | 10:32 PM
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id replace the u joints before i got into axle things lol.
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Old Apr 20, 2010 | 10:54 PM
  #6  
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If your talking U-joints in the driveshaft then I already changed them out.
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Old Apr 20, 2010 | 11:04 PM
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Aaron N.S.'s Avatar
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Originally Posted by jeepxj412
If your talking U-joints in the driveshaft then I already changed them out.
your brake shoes could be moving. does the clunk come from the back of the truck?
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Old Apr 20, 2010 | 11:10 PM
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It could also be the u-joints in the drive shaft. Mine started making that noise and one day I was on the high way and my rear drive shaft flew out. Completely destroyed my t-case. Not very much fun. Get under your jeep and grab your drive shaft and pull on it in all drictions. If you feel and or see alot of play where the u-joints are, they probably need to be replaced.
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Old May 6, 2010 | 08:22 PM
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jeepxj412's Avatar
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well those of you who said Check the u-joints, you were completely right. although i just replaced the driveshaft and all its components the caps were the first to go (on the u-joint) while i was leaving my local ACE Hardware i get going on to the main road and at about 2500 RPMs... BANG!!! the u-joint was all over the road and after i got done with it, i got home and went in reverse up my steep driveway and NO NOISE!!! i was soooo happy to hear that sweet sound of NOTHING! thank you all for your help
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Old May 6, 2010 | 09:52 PM
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Glad you figured it out. I kinda had a hunch thats what it was. And you got lucky my friend. If you go to my pics in my profile, theres a pic or two of my exploded t-case caused by my rear drive shaft u-joint going out on the highway.
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