I have a 2000 Ranger with what seems like excessive backlash in the differential. There is a lot of clunking at low speeds 5-20 mph and when shifting. The dealer says it is within specs at .009. I was also told by the dealer that Ford increased the tolerance of the differential backlash to .009-.015. Does anyone have any similar problems or solutions.

Thanks
R

 

Do a search on driveline clunk. There are numerous threads about the problem being caused by the slip joint in the driveshaft.

 

Welcome to FTE!!!

 

My nightmare began with a clunking differential that I let slip for too long with out getting it looked at.

My 98 Ranger always had a clang in the rear diff when going around corners and I had read that it was due to some bolts being torqued to an incorrect spec.

Last august I decided I was going to take a 16 hour trip across Ontario. About half way into the trip, something in my rear diff gave out. My driveshaft then began vibrating, and actually vibrated enough to break the welds which hold the weights to the driveshaft.

This vibration was transfered into the transmission where it wreaked its worst havok. Things were so ground up metal fragments completely filled the system and managed to fry most of the electronics in the tranny, and the gears of course were shot.

By the end of the trip, It cost me $7200 CDN To Rebuild the transmission, Fix the driveshaft, and rebuild the rear diff.

Now Thats Differental Backlash