I am new to this forum, and I just bought a 1997 Dakota 4x4 V8 5sp. When I bought this truck I thought that there was a problem with the transmission. When you accelerate somewhat hard, then let off the gas quickly, there is a loud clunking sound that sounds like it comes from the tranny (it has the NV 3500). I was doing a search on this last night, and I came across somthing that makes me think this is a natural characteristic of all manual 4x4 dakotas (somthing to do with the transfer case). Does anyone have a 4x4 5sp that does / doesnot clunk? Any information on this would be appreciated. Thanks, Matt

 

it could be your U joint thats causing that too.

 

I was thinkin u joints too. Possiby a throw out bearing....


My tranny in my work truck had a nasty vibration and some clunking sounds.....Like 2 weeks ago I was driving about 50mph in my work truck and I dropped the driveshaft! I was shifting gears and heard a loud clunk, and I couldnt shift and do anything. I pull it off the side of the road and look under the truck to notice there is no driveshaft. Good thing it dropped the back end first....

 

I checked the U-joints, and they all seemed to be tight. I don't know about the throwout bearing, but it does not make any noise when engaging the clutch. I was able to rotateboth front and reardriveshafts maybe 1/8th of a turn (wheels on ground in neutral), but I don't know what is normal.

 

take the load off the drive shaft, then try to turn it and shake it. if you see any play in the U joint its self then they are worn out.

 

Best way to check u-joints is to drop driveshaft. If tight or excessive loose, or if the journals on the rear joint show wear, replace them all. and If you have a 2 piece driveshaft (with center support bearing) replace that,too. Had 1 bad joint in my Ranger. Replaced all 5 and the center support bearing.[:'(] Nothing worse than doing one, than having to go thru it all again in 3 months to do it again.
If it were a throw out breng, there would probobly be growling/high pitched whine when theis clutch engaged. ( Load on the bearing.The bearing isn't really doing anything until the clutch is engaged.)

 

I was able to spend a little time troubleshooting yesterday. I determined that it is the transfer case chain that is worn excessively loose. What I did was put the transfer case in neutral and shift through the gears while revving the engine to see if there was any clunking from the tranny. I didn't hear any clunking, but as i got to 4th and 5th gear, i started to hear what sounded like a baseball card in the spokes of a bicycle. I left it in 5th just idling (with wheel chocks, ebrake, and girlfriend on the brake) and crawled under the truck. . . sure enough the sound (and some vibration) was coming from the transfer case. I'm assuming the chain is loose and hitting against the case or somthing else, and would definately explain the play in the driveline.

 

it can also come from the rear end. Excessive backlash would cause the driveshaft to have too much play in it giving you a clunk when you get off the gas.

 

mine does this and i asked my mechanic about it and he drove it and said its just the way they are unless its really bad but from the 4ish months i've had the truck i've learned to control it more and it doesnt do it as much as when i was first learning to drive it

 

I realize this is an old thread, but sounds similar to a problem I'm having with my 01 dakota. I've had it in the shop for play in the driveline, they found the spider gears in the rear were bad and fixed that. This made a significant difference, however still noticing a clunking sound towards the front when I let off the gas in any gear. Was wondering if anyone knows how much the repairs would cost to replace the transfer case chain?