Re: HELP NEEDED: Something shifts after complete stop
I don't think it has as much to do with the rear pinion moving as it does with the forward lean of the vehicle as you come to a stop. Just letting off the brake pedal was enough to make the clunk happen. As you brake, the vehicle leans forward, which lengthens the shaft. At this point the driveshaft is backdriving the tranny and engine, so you have a little torque in the slip-yoke splines. But there is still torque in the splines when you're stopped because you are in gear, but not moving. Once you stop, the vehicle would normally settle back down to regular stance, but the sticking of the splines actually holds the back of the vehicle up. Once you let off the brake, that torque changes and the shaft sharts to rotate, breaking it loose and giving the clunk.
On my truck, the phenomenon would not happen at all if I would first put the tranny in nuetral before coming to a stop. When the clunk would happen, it didn't matter is you slowly let off the brake or just mashed the gas down, so I don't think axle-wrap was a factor in my case.
Yes, this is common behaviour for splines. Even steering shaft splines with a plastic to metal interface are lubricated for this very reason.
[ QUOTE ]
Watch...as someone else drives off in your rig.
[/ QUOTE ] You can bet I would call the cops right away.