So today i managed to pull my carrier out of my rearend. I have had a clunk that i've noticed the more i've driven it, and it progressively got worse. When i come to a full stop and accelerate i hear a clunk in the back. I can rotate my driveshaft back and forth and i get almost 1/4" of play and hear the sound come from the rear end. No it's not the u-joints.

So i get everything out and go to check the play in the ring and pinion (thinking thats what my problem was) and she's tight as a virgin. So i put my axle in the side and thats where my play is. On both sides. I checked the splines and they look good. The thing is i checked the axels on both carriers that i have and i get the same result. I don't know if this is just how its sposed to be, or if my axle splines are worn.

Has anyone else had this happen to them? Or does someone know some specifications that i can run across what i have?

 

I havent seen splines wear on these axles. I do see some R&P play, specially rotating the driveshaft like you did. I dont know of any specs for the axles, only the R&P values in the FSM. If the R&P are realy tight like you siad, maybe the play is in the spider gears? Or somewhere in the carrier itself.

 

thats what i thought, i figured there was no way that my axles would be out of spec but it was worth a shot. this must be something thats just common. otherwise why would 2 other carriers have the same symptom.