Backward noises, any help appreciated!

Hi all,

I have joined the crew in trying to track down a clunk that doesn't seem to exist. I don't mean to add to the pile of threads but this seems a little different-see below. I have spent hours on the forum reading through different threads and have tried all the major fixes. I have checked the steering column, lca, ball joints, etc. The best possible description I can give is a hollow clunk, definitely echoing through the frame and making it very hard to track. The only discernable issue I can find is the driver-side CV axle has noticeably more play internally than the passenger, but I also read a thread with an almost identical video with a commenter saying "completely normal". The leafs were also replaced as part of the recall and I went months without any sort of issue after the fact. Is it a good chance it is in fact the leafs binding and releasing repeatedly?

The noise can't be replicated at a standstill whether it is jacked up or on the ground, I have jumped on and bounded each corner of the truck all of which have been dead quiet.

The stand-out factor that makes this different than all of the threads I have gone through is it is very specific to when I am rolling backward. My driveway is a bit rocky and sloped so every day when I back in it is continueous down the slope and driving me insane. I can drive forward up and down the same rocky slope and I can't get a noise out of it. It happens as soon as the suspension starts to articulate but very specifically rolling backward and does not go away like the "clunk" into place that many have described with the known brake pad issue. It does not matter whether I am in neutral or reverse, I even turned the truck off and put it in neutral to roll backward so I could stand outside of the truck as it rolled backward but still can't track it down.

At this point, I just pack on the street in order to avoid hearing it, but I am a little worried that it is an issue that could continue to get worse and have a negative impact later on. Let me know if you have any ideas or have experience with this!

 

Have you checked the Control Arm Bushings?
And have you checked to see if the bolts are tight?

I had a clunk when in reverse. It was the lower control arm bolts.
They like to be TIGHT. If they aren’t torqued to at least factory spec, they will “thunk”.
And it’s always when backing up and usually when the wheels are turned/turning.

 

Check your drive shaft center support bearing and driveshaft U joints.

 

If you're rolling backwards but not on the brakes at all, is the noise still occurring? If so, any relation to speed, or just to suspension articulation?

If you've got a smartphone you don't care about too much, see if you can get it strapped onto the frame aimed at the u-joints and center bearing. If you can get some audio/video when it's happening, might make things really obvious.

 

I checked the control arm bushings and sway bar links and everything seems torqued to spec and even a little more on the bushing bolts themselves. If I had to make a guess I would really pinpoint it to the rear half due to the fact that when I back in it is over a small rise off the street and I get an initial light couple clunks when the rear suspension clears.

The driveshaft was definitely a good spot to check but the u-joints and carrier bearing look like they are in good shape and don't have any play or odd wear. I will get back under after I grab a video to see if I can track something down.

Speed doesn't matter and it happens whether or not I am on the brakes, it really seems like it is just in relation to suspension articulation. I will try to get a camera on it this evening or in the morning!

 

Ujoint at real diff would be my guess. Last time changed?

If it’s in the rear suspension I would guess spring or shock bushings