Drivetrain is popping in 4X4

BUCKY2004

MEMBER
2004 FORD RANGER
116,000 MILES

I was out in the mountains this morning and I was coming down some switchbacks in 4 low using the motor and trans to hold the truck back. Almost on every corner all of a sudden this popping sound happenned (sounded like teeth jumping) and the truck stopped holding itself back for a couple feet and the noise stopped and I had power to the wheels again. I have already pulled the tranfercase out and split it and nothing is wrong in itall the gears and the chains are fine. I am at a loss of what to do next. Has anyone asked you about this? What should I check next?

Saturday, March 17th, 2012 AT 10:28 PM

3 Replies

CJ MEDEVAC

MECHANIC
11,004 POSTS

IMMA JEEP CJ GUY

THIS MAY NOT AID YOU, YOU ISSUE SORTA RESEMBLES "TRAC-LOC" ISSUES FOUND IN LATER CJ 5s AND CJ 7s

DOES YOUR TRUCK HAVE LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIALS?

IS THE CORRECT JUICE AND LIMITED SLIP ADDITIVE INSTALLED IN THE DIFFS?

THE ONLY THING THAT SORTA DOESN'T SOUND LIKE WHAT I MIGHT HIT YOU WITH, IS THE "NOT HOLDING BACK FOR A SPELL" (I GUESS YOU MEAN LIKE A LITTLE FREEWHEELING OR COASTING MOMENTARILY, UNTIL IT CAUGHT AGAIN)

IF YOU DO HAVE LIMITED SLIP, WAS THE POPPING ONLY WHEN TURNING?

WERE YOU IN 4X4 ON PAVEMENT OR WAS THIS A UNIMPROVED SURFACE (DIRT)?

RIGHT NOW, WHEN IN 4X4. IS IT ACTUALLY PULLING WITH ALL FOUR WHEELS. NOT JUST ASSUMING IT IS

PLEASE ANSWER ALL OF MY QUESTIONS--LIKE I SAID, I MAY NOT BE OF ANY HELP, YOUR ANSWERS WILL BE HELPFUL

THE MEDIC

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Sunday, March 18th, 2012 AT 2:21 AM

BUCKY2004

MEMBER
2 POSTS

I know the rear is a limited slip. I do not know if the front is. I was on a dirt road when this was happening. I was turning when it was acting up. I was in 4 low using the motor and trans to help hold the truck back while defending down the mountain switch backs. I do have the limit slip additive in the rear. But like I said I do not know about the front so when I replaced the fluid I did not put it in. It was pulling with all four wheels when climbing but it happened so soon and so short of a spell I could not figure out if it was just the front.

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Sunday, March 18th, 2012 AT 4:37 AM

CJ MEDEVAC

MECHANIC
11,004 POSTS

OKDOING THIS AIN'T GONNA HURT NOTHING

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS YOUR PROBLEM. BUT WITH THE "POPPING" THAT HAPPENS DURING TURNS WITH A CJ (AND OTHER VEHICLES) THIS IS THE CURE.

FIND AN ABANDONED LARGE PARKING LOT OR A MOSTLY EMPTY ONE.

DRIVE IN "TIGHT FIGURE 8s" (NOT CIRCLES) OVER AND OVER (WITH A PREVIOUS CJ I HAD, IT TOOK MAYBE 12-15 "8s" TO LUBRICATE THE CLUTCH PACKS INSIDE THE DIFFS) THE POPPING STOPPED (MY POPPING WAS MOSTLY IN TURNS)

THIS IS NOT A RACE!---MIGHT AT LEAST INFORM A BUSINESS THAT MIGHT BE OBSERVING, KNOW YOUR INTENTIONS

THAT WAS SOMETHING I FAILED TO DO AND WAS PULLED OVER (EVEN THOUGH I WAS GOING SLOW) THEY SAID I WAS DRIVING RECKLESS.

THE ONLY THING THAT SAVED ME WAS I HAD THE AMC SERVICE MANUAL TURNED TO THAT PAGE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE COP SORTA GAVE ME A SCOLDING, BUT THAT WAS ALL. LIKE I SAID I WAS DOING IT SLOW, AND NOT LEAVING MARKS, NO SQUEALING

BAD THING IS THAT I WAS DOING IT AT NIGHT AND MY HEADLIGHTS SORTA MADE THINGS LOOK WORSE THAN IT REALLY WAS

THE "COAST PART" STILL LEAVES ME AS PUZZLED AS YOU

I HOPE THIS HELPS

RETURN W/ GOOD NEWS

THE MEDIC

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Sunday, March 18th, 2012 AT 9:19 PM