Weird clicking noise!???

[Sklptrljay]

I have a loud clicking noise that comes only when the truck is under a load/hard acceleration. I can rev it all day long and no noise. I did a brake stand without breaking the wheels loose and no noise. Only when i'm moving and under a load.

My neighbor said he had a u-joint that made a noise like that once. He might be on to something as I did change the carrier bearing a while back. Any thoughts or past experience with this before I dive in?

[Sklptrljay]

Bump

[O'l Buck]

Sounds like a U joint to me

[captain69]

Can you feel it in the drive train or steering wheel feet ect.. I have had wheel bearings do that,Rear ends, trans ect.. sounds like carrier or u joint probably just wiggle the drive shaft to see usually the thump when you first hit the gas

[Sklptrljay]

Originally Posted by captain69

Can you feel it in the drive train or steering wheel feet ect.. I have had wheel bearings do that,Rear ends, trans ect.. sounds like carrier or u joint probably just wiggle the drive shaft to see usually the thump when you first hit the gas

No, I don't really feel any vibrations. It sounds like a tapping or clicking noise, only under load and fades after I get off the gas. It lasts as long as it takes until I reach a cruising speed and am not getting on the gas.

It's pretty loud, enough that I'm consciously trying go easy on the gas pedal so I don't get funny looks from cars next to me. Speed doesn't make a difference, only how much strain is on the drivetrain.

[Ol Blue K20]

Sounds like a u joint to me

[Sklptrljay]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

Sounds like a u joint to me

Hey, Dale! You would be amazed at how little I've accomplished on my truck since the get together last year .

Are you planning on another one this year?

[captain69]

I dont know your setup as far as drive shaft. Solid or two piece. Check the u joints you can usually tell if there bad if you get under there and move it. Chalk the tires put it in neutral jack the rear up and spin the shaft see if it makes a noise and see if there is any movement in the joint.

[captain69]

In my experience u joints clunk and vibrate when bad make noise when decel or sudden exel not while under load. But id start at the u joint and we can go from there.

[gipper]

I may be your speedometer cable.

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by Sklptrljay

Hey, Dale! You would be amazed at how little I've accomplished on my truck since the get together last year .

Are you planning on another one this year?

I haven't accomplished a lot on Blue either but I did buy a rolling frame and a parts truck recently. So I guess my excuses are running out. I haven't thought about it due to so few in attendance last time. I am going to the one at Rene's in October. That one is great.

[Sklptrljay]

I don't know your setup as far as drive shaft. Solid or two piece. Check the u joints you can usually tell if there bad if you get under there and move it. Chalk the tires put it in neutral jack the rear up and spin the shaft see if it makes a noise and see if there is any movement in the joint.


I removed the driveshaft already and I don't see anything that looks out of the ordinary. I didn't think to check for play while it was in. I will throw it back in if I don't see anything wrong to the naked eye.


It may be your speedometer cable.

Negatory-I already checked that.

[Sklptrljay]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

I haven't accomplished a lot on Blue either but I did buy a rolling frame and a parts truck recently. So I guess my excuses are running out. I haven't thought about it due to so few in attendance last time. I am going to the one at Rene's in October. That one is great.

I am going to try to make that one also. If I can get this issue corrected I'll be pretty close to "finished"-.

[71K20chevy]

Are you sure the engine isn't detonating?

[Sklptrljay]

Originally Posted by 71K20chevy

Are you sure the engine isn't detonating?

Man, at this point I'm not sure of anything! I really don't think it is a engine problem as it's fairly dialed in. But stranger things have been known to happen.

[71K20chevy]

Originally Posted by Sklptrljay

Man, at this point I'm not sure of anything! I really don't think it is a engine problem as it's fairly dialed in. But stranger things have been known to happen.

You are correct on the last part, definitely. As a matter of fact, I pulled my u joints out today, the one cup only had about 5 needles in it and was completely dry. But it never gave me any problems.

The problem is always what you don't think it is!

[captain69]

Brakes ok? Not hanging up on you.... or check the rearend fluid see if theres any metal would be next for me if the shaft looks good and its fine in neutral. Manual or auto?

[Sklptrljay]

Buddy/mechanic visually checked u-joints with me. All move freely and don't show any outwardly bad signs. The cap on the one that goes into the rear end was very slightly off center. We put it in a press and centered it. I'll put it back in and cross my fingers that it's just that.

Starting 7 days of 12 hour shifts today, so it who knows when I'll have a minute to do it. I'll post the results.

[slomotion]

Is it possible that you have a broken motor mount and under load your engine torques over causing the fan to hit something?

[GASoline71]

Exhaust leak? Crazier things have happened...

Gary

[Sklptrljay]

Originally Posted by slomotion

Is it possible that you have a broken motor mount and under load your engine torques over causing the fan to hit something?

I thought about that so I removed the fan and it still made the noise.

[Sklptrljay]

Originally Posted by GASoline71

Exhaust leak? Crazier things have happened...

Gary

That was my first thought. I pulled the old gaskets out and there was a small leak. I put in some malleable aluminum gaskets and it still made the noise.

[hamjet]

""I have a loud clicking noise that comes only when the truck is under a load/hard acceleration. I can rev it all day long and no noise. _I did a brake stand 'without' breaking the wheels loose and no noise._ Only when i'm moving and under a load."" This would tell me it has to be from the trans tail shaft to the rear end, because the only time it makes the noise is when the drive shaft and rear end are turning... it does sound like joints....

[chipflyer]

Believe it or not I had a wheel weight that was loose on mine, it wouldn't fall off but it would move far enough t to hit the beauty ring on the wheel under load. Took awhile to find it but it was the same kind of noise.
If you have clamp on weights you might check them.

[Sklptrljay]

VICTORY!!!!

It turned out that one of the u-joints caps was just off centered enough to make that noise when I romped on it. Putting it in the press must have snugged it up a little and eliminated the movement.

Just a little fine tuning on the engine and I'm calling it good for now. I'll drive it all summer (what's left of it) and have my winter projects waiting.