Metal clunk selecting reverse or drive

[Lpittx5]

Hi everyone, I have a 2001 4.4 x5 with 95k. When I go from park to reverse or drive I get a metal sounding clunk. It's also clunks when I move slowly and stop, parking etc. Any ideas what this could be? My mechanic has suggested a new rear diff? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[LeiZ]

Sounds to me like diff chain. Waiting for JCL......... He is

I have it, too, but only happen when in Reverse.

GL

Originally Posted by Lpittx5

Hi everyone, I have a 2001 4.4 x5 with 95k. When I go from park to reverse or drive I get a metal sounding clunk. It's also clunks when I move slowly and stop, parking etc. Any ideas what this could be? My mechanic has suggested a new rear diff? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[LeiZ]

By the way, what State are you in?

Originally Posted by Lpittx5

Hi everyone, I have a 2001 4.4 x5 with 95k. When I go from park to reverse or drive I get a metal sounding clunk. It's also clunks when I move slowly and stop, parking etc. Any ideas what this could be? My mechanic has suggested a new rear diff? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[romeokc10]

Yep, sounds like your transfer case chain is stretched, mine does the same thing.

[Lpittx5]

I'm in the uk. England. Is that an expensive thing to fix? Does it not sound like the diff to you guys?

[LeiZ]

There's a awesome write-up on this forum. Great details with pictures. Give it a shot.

Originally Posted by Lpittx5

I'm in the uk. England. Is that an expensive thing to fix? Does it not sound like the diff to you guys?

[Lpittx5]

Thanks for the info. I've been a bit vague with my description sorry. Its a knock underneath the car at the rear.

[BavariaTexan]

rear diff?

[JCL]

It could be the rear differential, but that wouldn't be my first thing to check. Could also be in the rear driveshaft.

I would look first to the transfer case. A loose chain will cause a similar noise. Another item to check is the front driveshaft yoke where it joins the transfer case, that is a common failure point that can create a similar noise. It is caused by wear due to insufficient contact on the sliding yoke. There are fixes for this one that don't require replacing the transfer case (which is sometimes suggested as the solution).

Any of these could be diagnosed by having the vehicle on a hoist (safely) and shifting forward/reverse while listening underneath. This must be done safely. It can be difficult to determine if the noise is front or rear from the driver's seat, and the most common cause is actually amidships.

[Lpittx5]

Thanks for all the replies! My mechanic has it at the moment and I will let u know what the outcome is! Got a feeling it's not gonna be cheap! He seems to think the noise is coming from the diff but I was just hoping/wondering if there was something smaller he may have missed!!