Can someone please help? I have a 2001 Durango, 4.7, 4wd. I went to put it in 4wd the other day and there was a loud "clunking" noise coming from the front left. It does not do it in 2wd. A local shop said it was the axle shaft. I bought a new axle shaft and installed it, but no change. It still clunks when I put it in 4wd. The hub bearing is good, but if I grab the axle shaft and slightly rotate it clockwise and counter-clockwise, it has play in it. The front right does not seem to have any play. Is this a problem with the front differrential?

Also, when I was removing the axle shaft, the stub shaft came out of the differential. Clip was still on it. It did not appear to be worn, so I reinstalled it. No fluid drained out. Is it low on fluid?

Any help would be appreciated. Snow is coming again soon.

 

That bushing can come out, just snap it back in just like you did. This is normal.

It could be that your front differential is out of backlash adjustment. The only problem is they are adjusted by shims between the axle housing and the carrier bearing caps on each side of the carrier. For the little normal people use it I would just leave it. If you are using it a lot then I would have it fixed. This is not a job for most people or shops. Ask around and price people out just for an adjustment.

It also helps to engage/disengage 4X4 in and out while just slightly moving. See your owners manual for further details.

 

mine clunked into 4x4 once, however i was slidding on a sheet of black ice at the time and just fighting to regain control the truck (pretty sure the back wheels were still spinning while the fronts werent which caused the clunk).

 

Thanks for the info fellas..

I havent yet had it off of all 4 tires to get under it to listen. Im going to try to eliminate the simple things before I try and tackle the differential. Even though 4wd is not used often, winter is here and its the girlfriends truck and I would like for it to be working.

I have read that it could be as simple as a U-Joint on the front drive shaft. Hard to get an exact location of the clunk when you are trying to drive, hang your head out the window and listen...

Besides that, it has the normal "rear brakes locking up" issue that I have read alot of these Durangos have. Makes it hard to control stops on snow that way. Yet another problem I have yet to diagnose.. As well as having to jiggle wires for the heater blower to work and the passenger window falling down due to broken pieces.. ugh... The list is growing. lol