OK, I know it's a truck.
Yes it's been like this since day one.

But now that I've got some mods onboard, and she wants to get out of her own way in a more expedient manner, the backlash in the driveline is bugging me more than it historically has for the past 15yrs.

In traffic, even with a light peddle, ease off a little to coast, then just touch the throttle, and its new exuberance takes up the slack in a hurry, with a bang.

Is there anything that can be done to minimize the backlash?

 

Might be time to check the LSD clutches and retainers, also check the r&p lash and see what's going on there.

 

^^^^ yeah that which he said

 

The rear has developed a whine in the past few thousand miles.
I figured I was up for a full axle rebuild since it has 161,000 on it.
R&P, all bearings and seals (including wheel)... even thinking about the pinion spacer and shims in lieu of the crush tube.
Haven't made up my mind as to whether I should replace the LSD clutch packs or put in something else.

I'll likely do the rear brakes while I'm at it... 161k on original rears, and the park brake doesn't hold s#!t.

 

What does driveline play even mean?

 

The total amount of rotational movement between overrun and acceleration at the flywheel before rotation is affected at the wheels.

Contributing factors;

• Backlash in the clutch splines
• Backlash in the gearbox
• Backlash in the tailshaft splines
• Worn universal joints
• Backlash in the Ring & Pinion
• Backlash in the spider gears
• Backlash in the axle splines

Ring & Pinion would typically be the biggest contributor on a truck, as the backlash has to initially be a little more than say a car, to allow for expansion due to heating from increased load associated with toeing and carrying a payload.

As I said, it has always been there, but with a snappier engine, the take up of the backlash is more abrupt, and hence more annoying.

Substitute "Play" with slop, or backlash if you must.

 

So what do you actually feel? As a symptom per say?

 

You feel a jerk at the seat accompanied by an audible thud in the driveline.
It is most noticeable (annoying) at ~20-30mph in slow traffic.
It's not an issue then accelerating and changing up... only when floating between mild acceleration/deceleration in a fixed gear (usually 2nd or 3rd), and and around 1100-1600 rpm.

I'm thinking this phenomenon likely would not exist with an auto.

 

that was a very sexy answer.

 

you has manual? I jelly