Front end clicking when i go up hill or get heavy on the Gas.

[infamous]

I have a 1969 Ford Bronco v-8 302 c-4 auto tranny . I have only owned this for about a month. After i went wheeling the first time i noticed that everytime i get on the gas a bit harder then normal i here a clicking sound coming from the front end. I am not really sure where to start. I am not in 4 wheel drive! The hubs are not Locked and im not sure what it could be. Anyone have any shot from the hip ideas... Oh and when i am in Four wheel drive it doesnt make the sound. Any help would be appreciated. Normally i have friends that i would take it to but i have moved to a new town and there doesnt seem to be alot knowledge here locally. Please HELP!

 

[Viperwolf1]

Welcome aboard. Sounds like an exhaust leak.

 

[Larry B]

Welcome aboard. Sounds like an exhaust leak.

It doesn't make the sound when in 4 wheel drive

 

[71broncman]

Bad motor/transmission mount causing fan rub maybe? .... Mark

 

[bax]

Bad motor/transmission mount causing fan rub maybe? .... Mark

This could be a good one to check on.

 

[Viperwolf1]

It doesn't make the sound when in 4 wheel drive

Depends on the range in 4wd. 4 low would put less load on the motor, less throttle opening, less exhaust pressure.

 

[22213evl]

one of the hubs not disengauging all the way? make sure when you turn them back to free you turn them firmly.

 

[Madgyver]

Going uphill or on the gas with load?

Your motor is pinging! back off the timing a little.

Welcome to the site.
I am madgyver

 

[infamous]

Still clicking

Check the exhaust everything is fine.. Also checked fan and mounts all is ok ... The clicking is coming from around the dana 20 .. Starts out clicking when from a dead stop and goes away as i increase speed.. checked hubs and are totally in free........ could the transfer case have anything to do with it... i just changed the fluid but it was doing it before.. also i dont have to be going up a hill for it to happen ......

 

[Viperwolf1]

I suppose it could be a bad bearing inside the tcase or maybe a tooth or two missing off a gear. I would think there would be some vibration that goes with it though. When in doubt, pull it out and rebuild it.

From your other thread it sounds like it was run out of oil.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Check the U-joints on both driveshafts. I suspect rear.

 

[infamous]

Yes there is some vibration , I have put it in 4 wheel since then and checked the hubs, if a hub was bad would a tell tail sign be the the wheel not reallY driving in 4 wheel drive!!!!

 

[Revelation]

if a hub was bad would a tell tail sign be the the wheel not reallY driving in 4 wheel drive!!!!

Not exactly, if the hub was stuck in the LOCKED position 4wd would work just fine, Unlock the hubs and try to spin the axles at the Axle u-joint, if they spin, your good

 

[DirtDonk]

Hard to tell when driving in 4wd ever time a hub doesn't work quite right. Since you might only have "3-wheel drive" if you don't have a limited-slip or locking differential. An open diff might spin one wheel while the other sits still, so which tire is spinning is not always a 100% verification.

I'm suspecting something with the transfer case too, but a simple and inexpensive (as in, free) test would be to pull the locking hubs (lockouts) out of the hubs and drive it a bit. Then, if you still have the ticking, pull the front driveshaft.
If it still ticks after that, you know it's either the rear shaft or inside the transfer case.

When does it vibrate? Only when it ticks or all the time? Under what circumstances?
We'll get it narrowed down yet, if it kills you.
Figuratively speaking of course. ;D

Paul

 

[infamous]

Can i just remove the front driveline first to see if it is the transfer case.. It seems to me that the noise is really not from the front end.. And it does click every time i increase from a dead stop but goes to a steady vibration above 15 miles an hour..

I checked all of the u joints today and the are all good front and rear of both... Is the Dana 20 a good tranfer case or should i go other route instead of rebuild... i am not planning on turning this rig into a full blown crawler that is way above my means for now!!!! But i like to go run some minor local trails and some washes...
Thanks for all the help from everyone to this point...

Keno

 

[DirtDonk]

Sure. Just pop that puppy out and see what happens. I was just talking from a perspective of every little thing being a possible culprit, but it sounds like you've got it more narrowed down already.
You can even pull the rear shaft and run it in 4-wheel high for a bit to see what happens. Good to experiment.

And yes, the Dana 20 is an excellent case for a Bronco. The best? Probably not. But the best bang-for-the-buck? Probably.
Good and strong gear drive. Reliable to a fault, except when you start going radical with tire size and engine torque and vehicle weight. Or when it runs out of oil!!! Hah! I think we've got your demon right there. Could have been low for a long time for all you know. Or leaked out before, then run for a long time, then re-filled by the PO just before you bought it. No way to tell.

The big "weak link" if you can call it that, is the rear output section breaking on a lot of the guys here. Then again, it's usually those that do heavy wheeling with larger tires and more torque or heavier rigs. Not always, but certainly a trend.
Most of us, on the other hand, are doing just fine with ours.

A more modern unit, like an NV231 or 241 would be quieter, have more aftermarket support, have slightly lower gearing, and can be bought with lower gears still.
But nothing wrong with working with the one you have. At least far enough to find out if the case or gears are shot beyond repair.

Good luck in that department.

Paul

 

[DirtDonk]

A little related possibly, but you might make yourself ready for the usual line-up of failing parts. Not that Broncos are un-reliable. But any rig that's going over forty, has the greater complexity and potential abuse of a 4-wheel drive truck, and perhaps has been on the short end of the maintenance stick for at least some of it's life, is likely to start needing parts.
In other words, it's going to want more money thrown at it! Oh joy...

Things like wheel bearings (especially the rear) and diff/axle parts. steering links, gaskets and seals, electrical work, and just stuff.
The forum is full of those stories from all years and mileage categories.

Hope yours doesn't fall into one of them.
Knocking on wood.

Paul

 

[infamous]

Well i will start in the morning on those tasks and perhaps narrow it down. The diff was very low on oil when i changed it. The guy i bought it from has had it for 3 years and put the new 302 in it and tranny. He did this stuff slow and all and all its not that good .. I mean when you get in and see the clutch pedal still there i have to laugh .... I am hoping that i dont fall under alot of repairs but sometimes i think "hell its a 4 wheel drive bronce i can climb anything" but to play the game you must pay the price... But thank you for the ideas i will post my findings...
Keno