How to fix 2nd generation Rodeo driveshaft clunk

[Slinky]

how long do u-joints typically last - the ones on this truck were replaced in '04

They should be fine, the ones on my truck are the factory ones with 195,000 miles on them and they're still fine.

[DAstormtrooper99]

yeah i figured u-joints were quite robust i think i'm leaning back towards a clutch/pressure plate/flywheel issue now...like i said nothing drastic but it does get annoying to have my head thrown forwards everytime i take my foot off the gas with the clutch engaged

[semenza21]

Thanks!!

[Cannonball]

When do you guys get this clank?

[Grumpfrompahrump]

I got my clunking noise in my Amigo at about 60k miles. I took the write up and some Mobil One grease to a local shop that did it for me. They only charged $50.00 and it took less than an hour.

The shop showed me the Isuzu Service Bulletin on the subject that says the clunk is perfectly normal!

[SwedishTrooper]

i know this post has been burried a bit, so i apologize for bringing it back up. my 99' trooper is having some of the symptoms that seem to be explained here.

the only time i feel a 'thud' from the rear is from a dead stop, taking my food OFF the brake. its a slight thud, but noticeable none the less.

my owners manual states that if on my information plate on the firewall, i have "G80", then it is equiped with a limited slip differencial. is this the same as a slip yolk?

i noticed the write up was for amigos/rodeos, but was wondering if this is also applicable if a trooper has the limited slip differencial.

sorry for the newbie questions. ive just gotten my first trooper about a month ago and can't stop thinking about mods and preventative maintenance that i want to do to it.

this forum is great for not only ideas, but how-to's also.

thanks for your time
mike

[jallantaylor]

thanks for all the great insight... I am also dealing with the clunk.

just bought a 00 passport ex 4X4 and dropped the shaft and did the grease right away - 3000 miles later it clunks again.

I am thinking about tapping for a sert - but a few things bother me about this whole thing. (1) can a one peice shaft be swapped out? (2) why does the clunk come back? (3) what physical force makes the clunk sound? - as I understand it - the slip yoke is designed to slide in and out when the suspension is moving up and down - so why does it clunk when you stop or go? (unless your shocks are junk) (4) it feels that upon stopping, a rotating mass preciptates the clunk - as in, something else stops after the vehicle stops, and same with hitting the gas. it turns (rotating mass) and clunks to engage the driving process.

I am not a mechanic, but tinker a bit for fun. this whole issue is nothing but annoying. any elaboration, alternatives, etc would be appreciated.

[Neutron]

(3) what physical force makes the clunk sound? - as I understand it - the slip yoke is designed to slide in and out when the suspension is moving up and down - so why does it clunk when you stop or go? (unless your shocks are junk) (4) it feels that upon stopping, a rotating mass preciptates the clunk - as in, something else stops after the vehicle stops, and same with hitting the gas. it turns (rotating mass) and clunks to engage the driving process.

I am not a mechanic, but tinker a bit for fun. this whole issue is nothing but annoying. any elaboration, alternatives, etc would be appreciated.

I believe the clunk is the little bit of rotation that occurs between the 2 halves of the driveshaft being amplified through the drivetrain. The grease in the spline cushions that movement, and quiets the clunk.

My rodeo has the exact same feeling you describe, making me think its a combination of dry spline and maybe some worn suspension links.

When I swap out my axle I will grease my driveshaft, and post results.

[tramo]

Whooda thunkit......

REALLY WORKS !!!

[streetthumper]

Dont mean to bring up old threads but thanks for the info, im defiantly going to try this. I was thinking my clunk was from a bad rear end, called the junk yard and done had a whole new rear end lined up to go in but if this works im gonna save myself a couple hundred dollars! I hope this fixes it dont have the money to buy a whole new rear end. The reason i feel it was my rear end is because i dug into mine the other day and that sucker was dry as a bone no grease at all so i figured the gears had worn and were getting ready to go.

[kottobahn]

I want to thank the person who posted this cure to the drive shaft clunk. I performed this maintenance and solved my issue. The isuzu dealer didn't even know what to do about it. Brilliant!

[radare]

Fixed the images. They are now hosted on one of my long-term servers and should not go away again.

[totten]

Time for me to grease the shaft also. Clunks when cold more than warm. No jerks I can see on driveshafts. I may use a injection needle to put grease in without removing shaft if I can. My two cents,Tony

[Kilroy2032]

Hi there. Could the same instructions be applied to a 1994 Trooper with an AT?

Just got mine up and finally running and noticed the clunk after letting off the brakes, too.

[Tad]

Yours is easy. It already has a grease zerk.

Tad

[Kilroy2032]

Yours is easy. It already has a grease zerk.

Tad

Thanks Tad. And it's right where there the slip yoke is then?

[6079smithw]

Bada-Bing! Just finished my '01 Rodeo and that clunk is history. It appeared the shaft had never been off the car (only 165k mi.) from the looks of things and I could feel the play in the spline before I separated it. Used my dad's old trick of a brush dunked in ATF to clean the splines; what little OE grease was in there had hardened and pretty much flaked off the spline and sleeve with the brush. Applied a generous portion of Napa wheel bearing grease to both pieces with a butter knife and slid them back together. (do it slowly to allow the air to escape) I used a couple of industrial-grade zip-ties (phone co. uses on overhead line bundles) to secure the boot and reinstalled the shaft after greasing front and rear universals. WELL worth the 1.5 hrs it took (94º in the shade here today)... you don't realize how annoying that clunk is until it's gone! My '94 Trooper's next in line but not until the weather cools down some...

[Tad]

Your trooper should have grease zerks on it. Might take only 5 minutes.

-Tad

[radare]

I can’t believe this topic is 15 years old!

[txamigo]

I can’t believe this topic is 15 years old!

And still getting read and used as I am doing mine this weekend!

[txamigo]

I am replacing the boot as well, and using a Dana 211916X - bought it from Northern Drivetrain for about $12.50

[radare]

I am replacing the boot as well, and using a Dana 211916X - bought it from Northern Drivetrain for about $12.50

I haven't checked my boot in years. I need to crawl under the Sport and do this all again.