2002 F-150 SuperCrew
4.6L 4x2

When I start to roll right from a stop sign, an audible 'clunk' comes from the rear of the truck. It doesn't seem to happen when I'm making left turns, but it is starting to drive me crazy!

Thanks,
Jeff

 

I have the same truck & same problem. I just started noticing the noise about a week ago. I removed the bed extender thinking that was the cause of the rattle, this did not help. Please let me know if you figure it out.

 

do a search on "clunk" and you will get the correct info.
"driveline"

 

Ok, took the truck to the dealer (has ~20k miles, so still under warranty).

The clunk is a "normal" tranny noise according to the mech.

I am thinking that I need to come up with a better description, and check the TSB's that are out there.

Will update as I learn more.

Jeff

 

He didnt tell you what was making the noise?? Most transmissions dont make clunking sounds under normal conditions.

 

hey guys don't sweat the small stuff....the clunk is an easy fix. the following information comes from a fellow drag racer who has owned his own transmission shop for 25 years and is very sharp. i have a ford f-150 and around 65k miles i started to get a clunking sound when i would start of from a dead start from a light or a stop sign...but when i would put it in gear from park to drive or to reverse i did not get it. this would rule out a u-joint problem. to make a long story short the fix is: pull the drive shaft and the piece that slides onto the tale shaft of the tranny (yoke)is a splined tube.....pack it halfway with some general purpose bearing grease the thicker the better and then reinstall. the play that creates this clunk is actually normal and designed that way but the factory packs the yoke with grease and through time it desolves or is pushed out. when reinstalling the drive shaft you have to keep pressure towards the tranny because the grease creates a spring effect till you slide the rear u-joint into place. while i had the drive shaft off i replaced both u-joints that way they are done and i don't have to mess with them down the road. hope this puts to rest alot of your headaches thinking that this noise was some other expensive problem....and oh by the way this also happens to chevy trucks also. take care

 

Hi neiz15 and welcome to the forum

Thanks for the advice.
Ford came out quite a while ago with Teflon grease for in the yoke but any good quality grease does seem to work.

 

Hey neiz15, good post. I have the same problem with my truck. Tomorrow I will buy some teflon grease and pack the yoke. Do you just remove the drive shaft at the u-joint, slip it out of the yoke, pack with grease and slide it back then bolt drive shaft back at u-joint?

 

SOMETHING to remember dealing with this issue.
You should perform this about every six months or so because it's not a fix, it's just maintenance.
I had maybe six "yokes" to go bad because of this problem and ford "denies" it's a problem.
My first yoke went out 3 months after I bought the truck new.
The real issue is that the "splines" are not getting lubrication via. the transmission fluid.........bad design.
I heard it has been redesigned.
I have spent "thousands" of my dallors because of this. I'M NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT.

 

Where do you find a serrated head socket to remove the bolts at the rear of the drive shaft??? I can't find one anywhere.

 

The only place where I could find the 12 mm 12 point socket was Craftsman so I had to drive all the way to Sears to buy it.

 

i disconnected the back u-joint pulled the driveshaft while the front u-joint stayed connected to the yoke tube.....then replaced both u-joints reattached the yoke tube packed it with grease then slid the whole assembly on and bolted up the back u-joint. sorry i didn't answer your post earlier as they say i was "gone hunting!" take it easy.

 

Thanks guys...gonna take it apart next weekend!

J

 

neiz15, I did it yesterday and so far, no clunking. Thanks

 

Man was glad to read this thread.
Great info on a simple fix!!