Rear differential clunk when accelerating from a stop?

Tiny
JBROWNENG
  • MEMBER
  • 1995 ISUZU TROOPER
  • 3.2L
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 200,000 MILES
When I floor it from a complete stop the rear differential clunks or shudders until I let off the gas and then it is fine when I ease into the gas. I suspect the pinion shaft and ring gear, but I have zero knowledge of the differential. I want to repair this myself. Any help is greatly appreciated.
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Monday, September 18th, 2023 AT 7:39 AM

15 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
No problem, the first thing I would do is check the U bolts that hold the differential to the leaf springs. If you have coil springs, check the bushings in the trailing arms. Here are the exploded views of the differential and both suspension types so you can see what I am talking about. Check out the images (below). Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem so we can see what's going on.
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+1
Monday, September 18th, 2023 AT 4:36 PM
Tiny
JBROWNENG
  • MEMBER
Thanks! Will do as soon as I get home this afternoon.
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Tuesday, September 19th, 2023 AT 7:33 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
You are welcome. Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem so we can see what's going on.
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Wednesday, September 20th, 2023 AT 5:41 PM
Tiny
JBROWNENG
  • MEMBER
I added some photos and video via my iPhone. Did they not load?
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Friday, September 22nd, 2023 AT 6:54 AM
Tiny
JBROWNENG
  • MEMBER
Apparently, they did not load from my iPhone yesterday. I have coil springs and have attached photos and video of the trailing arms on both sides. Although they are old and cracked a little bit, I don't think they would make the kind of sound/vibration/chatter I am talking about.

I attempted to get a video from the inside of the car hoping to reproduce the sound at least and could only get it to do it for a brief second. It was raining when I tried it, and the differential would "chatter" briefly and then the tires would spin on the slick surface due to the rain. I don't know what to think about that. I am stumped.
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Friday, September 22nd, 2023 AT 7:13 AM
Tiny
JBROWNENG
  • MEMBER
I accidentally loaded 2 videos of the same side. Here is the other side.
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Friday, September 22nd, 2023 AT 7:15 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
Thanks for the images and video. Yep, those bushing look okay. I had a thought; the noise could be a dry driveshaft slip yoke. Please check out this video to see what I am talking about:

https://youtu.be/p2snOCyqVMY?si=PihVpHkbubI0mJhV

Can you please shoot a quick video with your phone so I can hear the noise? That way I can tell for sure what's going on. You can upload it here with your response.
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Saturday, September 23rd, 2023 AT 11:29 AM
Tiny
JBROWNENG
  • MEMBER
Yeah, I'll try to do that today.
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Monday, September 25th, 2023 AT 6:31 AM
Tiny
JBROWNENG
  • MEMBER
These two have the sound/chatter I am experiencing. I sometimes get it worse. I don't know if the sound will be enough to tell.

OK, it's saying they are "Not a valid video file." now. Let's see if it works anyways.
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Monday, September 25th, 2023 AT 11:57 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
Oh man, that is wild. It sounds like you have a ring or pinion gear that is no good. I would remove the rear differential pumpkin-third member for inspection. Thanks for the video. A noise description would have been tough for this problem. Here is how to remove the unit which means the drive axles need to be removed as well. Check out the images (below). Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem so we can see what's going on.

PS. Can I ask which phone you have that you got the video upload warning? I can tell out dev team so they can fix it.
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Tuesday, September 26th, 2023 AT 11:17 AM
Tiny
JBROWNENG
  • MEMBER
I have an iPhone 11. I may not have been logged in when I tried to upload the videos and only thought I was. I haven't tried it again via my phone though. I email myself the videos and then upload them that way. They are still. Mov videos though so I don't think it should be a problem when uploading them if I'm logged in, but IDK?
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Wednesday, September 27th, 2023 AT 11:17 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
You should be okay when logged in, thanks for letting me know. Can you run a test and upload the videos with your response please?
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Thursday, September 28th, 2023 AT 10:13 AM
Tiny
JBROWNENG
  • MEMBER
Do you have a good place to get the proper ring and pinion for my vehicle? Seems hard to locate.
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Thursday, September 28th, 2023 AT 1:39 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
I would try ebay. Here is on for $427.00:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/134719888364?chn=ps&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&amdata=enc%3A1HoEsWXn6RVSiw0SqBm9tIw10&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=134719888364&targetid=1644837435083&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9031538&poi=&campaignid=20125739985&mkgroupid=149128855676&rlsatarget=pla-1644837435083&abcId=9312975&merchantid=419692524&gclid=CjwKCAjw69moBhBgEiwAUFCx2FWMcXw0SsOvbUUPSSxgpWQ8flXYNYNXp_CArFLxsT-G33hkFXg0nhoCHpUQAvD_BwE

Please let us know what happens.

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Friday, September 29th, 2023 AT 10:21 AM
Tiny
JBROWNENG
  • MEMBER
When removing the ring and pinion and housing will I also need to remove item 2 in the sketch provided? Also, my vehicle has disk brakes and the sketch appears to be drum brakes. Will that make a difference?
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Saturday, September 30th, 2023 AT 8:28 AM

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