Ford Explorer: Another cry for help - Jim ?

Took the car for a spin last night. This is the car my wife drives so I
don't get to drive it a lot.

I would also like to note that the truck had the timing chain guide replaced
under warranty (it's a 4.0L SOHC) about 3 weeks ago. We have left to
Argentina a couple of days later for 2 weeks and when we came back I noticed
the clunk noise. Could this be related ? Do they take the engine out when
doing the chain guide ?

So I took it for a ride. Started it up from cold (it was sitting for about
6-7 hours) and noticed the RPM is around 1000 with AC off. No noise if I
shift from P to D while holding the break pedal down . Shift to R (pedal
down) - very little noise. Shift to D again but this time I let it roll a
bit and then shift to R. Loud noise. I let it roll a bit in R and shift to
D - some noise (more than usual).
I go out of the parking and drive for about 1-2 minutes. RPM at stop drops
to around 600 and I play with the shifter again. This time the noise is not
as loud (probably duo to the drop in RPM) but it's definitely there. I do
some more tests and come to the conclusion that if I shift from D to R and
back again without taking the foot off the break pedal there is definitely
less noise than when I shift but let the car roll a bit in D and R.

I hope this will give you some more info.

Unfortunately I don't have any jackstands and I checked the shaft by
dropping the transfer case side (and re-lubing the slip yoke) and tested the
play on the U-joints. What I can say Is that my "feeling is that there is
too much play on the rear axle. How much play should there be if any ?

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you on behalf of all us
explorer owners who you help very much. Do you own / work in a ford shop ?
Where ?

Thanks,
zoti

"Jim Warman" <net> wrote in message
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