My 2003 Tahoe has been making this "clunking" noise for about a year now but is getting progressively worse. Whenever I put it into reverse, I hear the clunk. Whenever I am driving and decelerate as coming to a light, then I tromp the gas to get back at it, I hear the clunk. It almost feels there is slack in the driveshaft...I got underneath my Tahoe and the rear driveshaft when in park doesn't move and doesn't rattle. The FRONT driveshaft rotates with little effort even when in park.... When I put the e-brake on and Tahoe in neutral, the rear driveshaft feels stiff as it should, and the front driveshaft is like a dead fish and rotates easy as can be... Hopefully this is a sign my universals on the front driveshaft are bad??....Took it to my transmission guy a few weeks back and he said trans is fine...Baby is coming any day now, and hoping its not my transfer case, because I don't have thousands to spend....Tahoe is a 2003 with 123,000 miles on it, and very well serviced and taken care of by myself.Any opinions? Thanks alot

Sounds normal to me. My truck exhibits similar issues but never a problem with 86,000 miles. The front drive shaft is "loose" when turned compared to the rear. My truck was at the dealership less than a year ago for wheel bearing replacement. They explained the slack in the front shaft is required to avoid binding when turning in 4WD. I don't think it is anything to do with the transfer case. I have replaced one in the past on a 2001. The problem with that one was the chain slipping on the sprocket. It was obvious when accelerating. You could feel and hear it. $1300 to replace after 200,000 miles. Is your Tahoe 4WD or AWD? Both of mine are AWD.

Is the Tahoe all wheel drive or is it part time four wheel? Part time four wheel in 2 wheel drive selected in transfer case, the front drive shaft will turn very easily.I would say the rear differential or transfer could be suspect.Jack up the rear of the rig (both wheels). Turn drive shaft to see how much slack is in the rear differential ring and pinion.

u-joints are going bad,replace with new joint that have grease fittings,they are not very expensive.sometimes the joint will feel tight but the factory grease will be gone and start wearing the cross and that is the clunk you feel,I have had them even make a high pitch whistle sound when the joint goes dry.

hmmm my Tahoe is 4 wheel drive only when I select it on the dash. I never had this "clunking" in the past until about 4,000 miles ago. I am starting to doubt taking it on long trips because of the noise.... Nobody thinks it my front drive shaft universals?

looking closer at the factory front universal it does not have the grease fitting but does look almost like grease has spewed out of it over time... Also, I don't hear the high pitch whine but it louder now when "Decelerating" than it ever was in the past. I feel as if I can hear it gear it runs though...(This could be due to my 17" All terrain tires)

Universal Joints going bad or transfer case? | Good Sam Community

GWolfe
Explorer
Feb 11, 2014
A common problem on GM trucks, slack in the slip yoke. There is a replacement yoke from GM that is nickle plated that solves the problem, some people just grease them and that quiets it for a few thousand miles but it will come back. Do a search for slip yoke noise Chevy Tahoe and read on.
bguy
Explorer
Feb 11, 2014
jbres wrote:
I just got underneath the Tahoe again. On the front driveshaft where the front universal is I CANNOT rattle it back it forth side to side. BUT on the front driveshaft rear universal I can rattle the universal joint up and down and side to side. Its got a pretty good amount of wobble to it. Even though this is my front driveshaft and not my rear, could this be the clunking I am hearing?

You don't have full time 4wd, so unless you're running around in 4 all the time you can forget the front driveshaft. If you're at all mechanically inclined remove the rear shaft and inspect the joints. Descriptions given don't make me think U-joints. U-joints will usually produce a "shaking" while you're bootin down the road or under acceleration.
Flyfisherman128
Explorer
Feb 11, 2014
If in doubt take them out.. If you know what you are doing, changing the u-joints cant take half hour per drive shaft, an hour if you don't know what your doing and set you back about $20 per set. Personally I would change them out because its the easiest and cheapest thing to do. Like others have said, put in the greasable ones. A little trick, put a couple of clamps on the bearing caps and pump grease before you install them.. save you lots of aggravation.
Huntindog
Explorer
Feb 11, 2014
jbres wrote:
hmmm my Tahoe is 4 wheel drive only when I select it on the dash. I never had this "clunking" in the past until about 4,000 miles ago. I am starting to doubt taking it on long trips because of the noise.... Nobody thinks it my front drive shaft universals?

It is NOT the front driveshaft u joints. Those don't do anything unless it's in 4x4.
It is likely a rear u joint. Often those can seem tight unless you take the load off of the rear wheels.
Iraqvet05
Explorer
Feb 11, 2014
I just replaced the u-joints on my Silverado last weekend at 87k miles and I didn't have any noticable play in the joints. My truck started making a squeeking noise on acceleration (especially in low speed turns) and some clunking when I left from a stop. I also had a "clunk" that would happen several seconds after I came to a stop...I believe this is the slip yolk problem and I greased the yolk while I had the drive shaft out and that problem hasn't come back since.
Mvander
Explorer
Feb 11, 2014
GWolfe wrote:
A common problem on GM trucks, slack in the slip yoke. There is a replacement yoke from GM that is nickle plated that solves the problem, some people just grease them and that quiets it for a few thousand miles but it will come back. Do a search for slip yoke noise Chevy Tahoe and read on.

THIS!
I have the same truck qith the same noise. I tryed greasing the splines as advised by many web mechanics but that didnt work. I learned to live with it. Also have the 2-3 shift clunk but thats another thread.
jbres
Explorer
Feb 11, 2014
After reading up on the slip yolk issues, I don't exactly have the symptoms it describes. I don't ever feel the clunk that comes after sitting already stopped. Also, I don't get the clunking when beginning to accelerate.

I get the clunking when shifting into reverse, and also when tromping back on the gas after decelerating.
enblethen
Nomad
Feb 11, 2014
Sounds like rear differential, ring and pinion or spider gears!
wcjeep
Explorer
Feb 11, 2014
I would definetly pull the rear driveshaft. Some Ujoints feel good on the truck. Obvious problem on the ground. On my Dodge I was able to verify with infrared heat gun. The bad Ujoint was slightly warmer. Ujoints are a consumable item. It's probably time to change anyway. Also, if the vehicle is newer the factory Ujoints could be held in with injected plastic. The replacement will use regular clips. For $20 install charge per Ujoint I let the driveline shop mess with it.

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Universal Joints going bad or transfer case?

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