hi all, I have 2001 2500 ram van 5.2 new noise coming from rear sounds like baseball card in the spokes, seems to be in lower speeds. It seems to coincide with a louder than normal thunk when putting in reverse. Any ideas . wheel bearing pinion gear bearing i do not think. There seems to not be any free play. just started, maybe spring from brake. I don' know. One more thing the noise seems to happen when i press gas ans stop when i let off

 

Start with an inspection of the rear u-joint on the drive shaft.

 

Be sure to block your front tires if you are removing your driveshaft to replace the u joints-

 

It makes no difference which tires you block, but block one.

U joints dont ever make a racheting sound, they simply clunk and then fail. Most likely to be rear brake mechanism coming apart as you suspected. Check the u joints first just because they are easy access and if they are tight then raise the differential on jackstands, remove the rear tires and inspect rear brakes for loose parts.

 

So he jacks the back wheels off the ground then blocks one back wheel with a stack of wood. Nice and safe.
May as well leave it on the jack instead of stands.

A u-joint will click when it is extremely dry and rusty. Would sound like a ratchet. Could also clunk as its bearings are getting chewed to dust.

 

If both rear wheels are raised and the truck in on stands, its not going anywhere.
You are certainly entitled to your opinion. 45 years, hundreds of cars, never once heard a U joint make a ratchet sound. The U joints will clunk/clank into gear about 7 - 8 times, then they come apart and drop your driveshaft in the street.

 

It can roll when the drive wheels are in the process of being lifted and lowered-I would say focus on safety above all else-as far as the noise goes remember we aren't all pros on here so someones "ratcheting" noise may not be a ratcheting noise at all--it is being heard in the vehicle while driving---Keep us updated yay fun

 

With 45 years under your belt you should be more than aware that what you call a clanking, someone else might call ratcheting. We don't have the benefit here of hearing the noise ourselves.

 

Exactly. I've heard the dry ting ting ting of a bad u joint when under load.
Could be considered a ratcheting sound.
But 45 years and hundreds of vehicles seems to say your better at replacing a vehicle than fixing one.
But I'm not here to argue with you. The all mighty car god.
Nothing anybody here says is correct or even helpful.
Just listen to "That guy". He knows everything.

 

thank you all for your help. My mechanic said front u-joint was shot which clanked so replaced front and rear u-joint and spring fell off rear drums once again which made a clicking ratchet sound. He fixed everything for 200 cash. Everything is better now