I was hauling some wood earlier in the bed of my truck. I think it probably weighed a good 2000-2400 lbs pretty easily. It was enough to squat the back of my 1 ton down pretty good. Motor wise i couldnt really feel the weight, except for a weird crackling sound that only happened under acceleration. It was not the suspension making noise either because i could let off the throttle and roll and it stopped, it only started again when i touched the throttle. It didnt sound like it was coming from the transmission but more like the rear end? is it possible the truck was squatted enough to make the drive line bind?
thanks
tyler

 

Making the driveline bind, i think not. When the truck squats the drive line actually becomes straighter. If you think its the u joints, the best way to check is put the truck in neutral, lock the parking brake, climb under and rock the driveshaft back and forth. You should see no movement in the ujoints.

 

maybe an exhaust rattle? mudflaps? look for anything touching tires or driveline. I've many a time thought i blew something up and it was the fender or something rubbing when you get real loaded down.

 

Like someone else said...The U-joints are easy to check...


They shouldn't do this....

 

I checked the U joints and they appear to be fine, no movement in neutral. I also dont think it is the exhaust or anything because it runs out right infront of the rear tire and its welded up pretty solid. The best way to describe the sound would be that it sounded like a bunch of tiny rocks grinding around in the transmission, except the sound was coming from the rear end.. the truck does not make this sound driving normal, only the other day when i was hauling wood

 

In the past I've had U joints that appeared to be fine, but after removing the driveshaft and trying to pivot them in all directions we very difficult to move.

After removing them all the needles would be there but were dryer than a popcorn fart.

These were usually OEM non greasable units, but I've also seen 1 or more cap that didn't get grease do the same thing.

Hope this helps.

 

[QUOTE=lessersivad;649735]In the past I've had U joints that appeared to be fine, but after removing the driveshaft and trying to pivot them in all directions we very difficult to move.

After removing them all the needles would be there but were dryer than a popcorn fart.

These were usually OEM non greasable units, but I've also seen 1 or more cap that didn't get grease do the same thing.

Hope this helps.[/QUOTE

the U joints are non greasable so im guessing they are the factory ones, im going to pull the drive line today and check them out better, thanks