When driving there is a cracking sound coming from the driver's side rear?

Yes, it could be the U joints, but I would also check to see if the wheel is tight. Can you please shoot a quick video with your phone so I can hear the noise? That way I can tell for sure what's going on. You can upload it here with your response.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/wheel-removal-and-re-installation

Please go over these guides and get back to us.

It's not a loose wheel! when i put it in D then R it clunks. i will try to get you a video!

i really want to know if there is a way to change the u joints and not have to re-balance the drive shaft and if so, how with regular tools?

Yep, it sounds like a U joint or rubber coupler issue, can you get underneath to look for rust colored dust around the U joint ( center this is proof the U joint has gone bad. Or check out the rubber couplers at the front and rear of the shaft. You don't have to get the shaft balanced when doing the work, you can replace the couplers with normal tools, but the U joint will need to be pressed in and out. Check out the images (below). Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem so we can see what's going on.

i did the looking at the u-joint there's no red dust or play but i can move the drive shaft an inch or so in either direction in the middle by the carrier bearing is that normal? It's not but a few months old! which way is the bearing supposed to face?

No, you should not be able to move the drive shaft that much. It sounds like you need a carrier bearing and mount. Here is how the job is done and you can inspect the couplers as well. Check out the images (below). Please let us know what you find.

i went and bought a new carrier bearing today and had my exhaust off and grabbed the new bearing to make sure it matched. the darn thing was broken straight out of the box!! The one I'm replacing 2 months old!!! is there anything America makes now a days?

I am sorry to hear that. It happens. I forgot to mention to mark the shaft so you can put it together the same way it came apart.

and also, there's a 180 out and 180 infor the shaft going back into itself. but you still haven't said which way the carrier bearing is to face so that it's not backwards?

Can you upload images of what you are talking about?

Okay, i put in a new driveshaft (front and back) u-joints and still have that cracking sound coming from the driver's side rear! i put new half axles in the rear and checked the differential fluid, it's good. no leaks. my drives shaft is in phase, but it looks like my drive shaft is misaligned with the rear end making both of them not in line with the transmission. My question is would all that make it look like my rear springs are crooked or bent at an angle?

If the carrier bearing is on backwards, it will cause this problem. Can you tell if you reversed it the driveline would line up correctly?

it kind of looks like it would but then it would be backwards!

does it matter which way it faces the center bearing? because it looks like it would be straighter facing the opposite way? to push it over the other way would be straighter but then that would be backwards? so my differential is out of angle, right? I will take pics.

okay, one last question! If the yokes are supposed to be in the same position, that would have to be a different car/truck altogether! it would be impossible to get this one both in the same position!! it just won't happen!!!! happy 4th

It sounds like it might be, I don't see any images of the problem though. The driveline should line up with the couplers and yokes.

i took the carrier bearing off and turned it around and the vibration is just about gone! so now it's turned backwards but I'm still getting that cracking sound at low MPH until it shifts to second gear! if i give it heavy throttle it doesn't do it just at low speed, something isn't right, correct?

Hey Ken,

Do you think this driveshaft problem I've been having can cause an incorrect gear ratio? i just got one for second gear was going fine i turned around and it started jerking when into limp mode! you know that big skinny nut in the tail shaft where the drive shaft goes to the transmission? the other day i took the shaft out and noticed it was really loose is i tried tightening it up tighter than it was but don't know if it stayed or not, but could that be the problem? thanks

I need images to see what you are talking about. For the limp mode problem can you please start a new thread?

Sorry we only handle one problem per thread, please post your new question here, you must be logged in:

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/new

Cheers, Ken

Hey Ken, i got you some pics. the last 2 pics is the rear bushing (lower on the subframe) could that make my rear end out of angle like putting a different pitch to the pumpkin causing the cracking/popping sounds?

Thanks for the images. it looks like the center support bearing is on backwards. If it was on the other way the driveline would line up. Please do the repair and reload the images, they helped.

Ken, the other way it was all out of whack! Remember you said if i had tried turning the cb around if it would put it back in line? well i turned it around backwards and it's in line now! but did you see the diff. bushings? do you think that's where the cracking/popping sound would be coming from? also, what is the average price to get the rear diff. bushings replaced?

Also when i turned it around all the vibrations stopped!!

So, the problem is fixed or? The bushings in the image don't look that bad to cause a problem. Was the car in an accident?

this couldn't be causing the cracking/popping sounds, right? i forgot to put this back on a month or so ago. It goes in there for the e brake cable on the rear!

It could if the cable is loose and flopping around. I would reinstall it to see what happens.

that's a lot of work for that little thing! i'd also have to buy another wheel bearing nut!!

well Ken, i put that metal bracket back on the rear driver's side and while i was under there i looked and touched every bolt/not i could find under the rear end and everything is tight.

It sounds like it could be an axle bearing going out. Do you have gear oil leaking from either rear wheel? Also check the driveline rubber couplers.

no grease or oil leaking anywhere, new CV half shafts and new flex couplers! Is it possible that if the shaft is out of alignment (which there's no vibration at all) that it could make my transmission throw the incorrect gear ratios for 1st and 2nd gears also the turbine sensor code? when i clear the codes, it drives fine. if there were actual codes and something was really wrong with the transmission the codes would come right back, correct?

turbine sensor code can cause a shifting issue, but I don't think it can produce a noise.

i think i got it Ken, so far everything seems copacetic! i made another large rubber washer to go with the one that is holding the tail of the pumpkin up and i guess i got lucky with the angle! i turned the carrier bearing back facing the way it supposed to be. i also put a new transmission relay in. i don't know if that has anything to do with the transmission codes, oh yea and i checked the transmission fluid with it in park and it rear the same.170* and about 62mm on the stick. it is early. I'm going to try and go do laundry now. did you get the video i sent showing the rearend yoke with the play in it. i still clunks but not as bad. Is there a way to take the slack out of it? hey thanks for letting me bounce all this insaneness off of you and your friends too, i really appreciate it. Hopefully you don't hear from me again! bet your crossing your fingers on that or giving me the # 1 sign, lol!!

Good to hear things are going well. If you have any other questions, please start a new thread. Use 2CarPros anytime, we are here to help. Please tell a friend.

well, Ken you didn't answer my question? I'll start a new one!

if i tightened up the wheel bearing hub nut before i put a load on the axle, would that cause this cracking/popping sound in the rear driver's side? If so, why is it just doing it on one side and not the other?