Ping! noise from rear diff.

[turboSR5]

Lately I have noticed a new sound coming from my truck when I take off from a dead stop. It is a metallic ping, it sounds off once when I start moving then I hear nothing until I take off again from a dead stop. Seems like a bearing would be at fault here, anyone familiar with this? This is on the '87 4runner.

 

[FirstGenRunner]

Lately I have noticed a new sound coming from my truck when I take off from a dead stop. It is a metallic ping, it sounds off once when I start moving then I hear nothing until I take off again from a dead stop. Seems like a bearing would be at fault here, anyone familiar with this? This is on the '87 4runner.

I had something similar. It was the U-joint. I forget which one it would be though. I was always always taught the front one is gone if you hear it when you stop, and rear when you start...or vice versa. For me it was an 88 pickup. Can't remember if there was any play in it, but the rods bearings were completely shot.

 

[fourwd1]

U-joints is a good place to start, also make sure the slip joint is greased.

 

[turboSR5]

Thanks guys, I will take a good look at the U joints and shoot some more grease at it this weekend. Hopefully the problem is with the driveshaft and not with the 3rd member (although a nice new locker would be a sweet upgrade at this point).