Greetings,
I posted a while back regarding the popping/clacking sound under acceleration, and the consensus seemed to be that it is from a front drive shaft slipping due to a worn spline. Well, I also have found that a slipping transfer case chain can make the same sound. In fact, some transmission sites state the the clacking sound most likely is a loose chain slipping, while a worn spline will cause a ginding sound. In either case, I was looking to be more sure before shelling out $600 for a new shaft with longer spline, that is non-returnable.

Shouldn't I be able to put an index mark on the shaft where it meets the sleeve going into the transfer case, and then drive the car, make it pop/clack (VERY easy to do now, unless you drive like a 90 year old grandma), then look underneath and see if the index marks have moved?

I seem to remember seeing in a post somewhere that a user did just that, and determined that it was his chain that was causing the popping, not the shaft.

Regards,

Gary

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2003 X5 3.0L