Popping sound from rear end?

(2012-02-04 15:20:18)

1. Jp Says: So my 1990 F150 4x4 5.0 with 4.10 gearing has this wierd thing going on. So my old differential blew up last year and I had it professionally replaced with a jasper re manufactured. So now a year later, my trucks been making this popping sound. When its making the popping, it seems to be holding the truck back. At first I thought u joints but u joints make a clunk and my u joints seem pretty tight . The diff isnt leaking fluid. It happens infrequently but most often between 20 and 40 mph. It can do it once and go away for the rest of the drive. It also does it more on hills. I don't want to hurt the rear end. Its still under warranty. Should I bring it back to have the shop that installed it check it out. Oh and the axle shafts were replaced with the differential.

2. nobody special Says: a dry yoke can cause it to bind and then pop loose, he is right, but I have also seen an Explorers rear brakes do the same thing, they will hold from overheating and then seizeup once they get cold, once you start driving they eventually let go, usually within a block or less.
After driving it for a spell, park it in place and let it cool down, then without moving the wheels put the rear end in the air and see if you can spin the wheels, listen for it to brake loose, usually you can hear where the problem originating from.

3. bandit_60 Says: check to see if the pinion gear is tight. there is a big nut behind the rear u-joint that needs to be tight.