1998 S-10 ZR2 possible rearend problem

carload4916 · March 13, 2013

I can not figure this out and neither can my mechanic. For a while now, my s-10 has been acting up in the rearend. Whenever I go over rough or uneven ground, I will hear a popping noise coming from the rear end, at least it sounds like it is coming from the rear end. A while back, I took it too my mechanic and he could not find anything wrong but the popping was still there.

Well just recently, it has started to get worse. So I decided to take the left rear wheel off and look around. I took the brake pad assembly and the wheel hub off and did not notice anything wrong. I had both wheels off the ground and turned the wheels and did not notice any popping but I did notice at a certain point that it acted like it was catching or getting hung up, maybe trying to turn the driveshaft. I didn't think much of it at the time.

Well I put everything back together and was going to take it to my mechanic again since it was getting worse and it would not make that noise anymore. I am not sure if it was something that I did or not but I am going to keep on driving it and see if it starts up again.

If I am driving at highway speeds, it does not pop at all. It just happens when I am on rough or uneven ground, doesn't matter the speed I am going. I can be going 5mph and it will pop. I figured if it was the differential, it would do it at highway speeds. I checked the rearend fluid and it looked fine.

00Silverado4x4 · March 13, 2013

Do you have a locker in the rearend? If you do it may be binding, or may have something worn in there (even if you don't have a locker). I'd take it back to the shop and have them crack open that rear diff and have everything inspected for wear and proper settings.

carload4916 · March 13, 2013

No I do not have a locker in the rearend. As of right now, it is not making any noise. I don't know if it is something I did or not but I am going to keep driving it and see if it comes back.

Badass69 · March 15, 2013

My buddies 94 S10 was making a popping clunking sound that he was dead set was in the rear end. We swapped his rear diff ( open 7.5" 10 bolt with drums) with a G80 equipped 7.5" with rear discs out of a GMC Jimmy....... and it didn't change a damn thing, lol. His ending up being the rubber bushings on the torsion bar crossmember that were causing the sound. Seems to be relatively common in the S10 world.

carload4916 · March 15, 2013

Well as of right now, the noise has went away. I don't know if it is something I did but it has stopped for now. The only thing I did was take the brake pad assembly and the wheel hub off.

brainpause · March 17, 2013

I had a 95 S10 that I absolutely loved. It had the 4.3 engine.

Anyway, I only kept it for 68000 miles. Kept having rear end trouble, but I can't remember exactly what it was. I do remember getting under there and spitting on the differential, and it sizzled. Mechanic said that was normal, but I don't think so. It was too hot to touch, and without a cooling system, it had to be cooking the diff fluid. So I traded it for a 98 Frontier, also a great truck.

I've heard from one person that the 95's had rear end problems, and I've done some light searches, but can't find much info.

Larry

carload4916 · March 17, 2013

I just want to make something clear. When I say rearend, I am not pointing to the differential. I just meant the noise was coming somewhere in the backend, possibly the brakes, wheel bearing, etc.

Brenthaylett · November 16, 2017

I know this is old but my problem sounds almost exactly like this.. I was thinking maybe leaf spring bushings? Idk but does anyone else have any ideas on this problem. My bearings seem fine, I shook it all in and out up n down and on the driveshaft too and can't find any problems there.