Rear Differential "Clunk"

[chriszep]

Ive been driving my 2019 4x4 Crew Van for a little over a month now, put about 2400 miles on it and I've been noticing a concerning sound from the rear of the truck. when I shift from park to drive, sometimes I hear a small clunking sound, which I image is the transmission shifting, okay fine. But sometimes as I pull away from a stop, with light acceleration I hear a more pronounced "CLUNK" from the rear, and its making me nervous... I am going tp bring it in for service, but since I can replicate it 10 times out of 10, I think the dealer is going to tell me I'm crazy....

Has anyone else experienced this in the 2019 4x4?

 

[Michlb]

Rear Differential "Clunk"

Congrats to your 4x4. I wish I had one. My 2019 RWD is not exactly quiet either. I hear some noises coming from the back too but never thought anything about it. Just part of the experience of driving a van, I thought. I assume what you are experiencing is not in 4x4 but just in RWD mode? I believe there really is no difference in the way the van is built in the back between 4x4 and RWD.

After we spent lots of time on sound deadening the floor and covering up and insulating the wheel houses, the actual driving experience is very quiet though. I can only recall noise during start and acceleration.

Also, make sure it’s not the door. My sliding door is driving me absolutely nuts. I have adjusted some of the lock positions, and that helped it. But I still experience loud noises from the door locks when I start the van, particularly on uneven ground. It is as if tension from the van platform is being conveyed to the plastic locks which make nasty sounds. Have a passenger ride in the back to determine whether the noise is coming from the door. Again, once the van moves it is very quiet.

 

[Thabmxer]

My 2WD 2019 does the same thing. Small thunk from rear happens 100% of the time from a stop.

 

[wquek]

My 4x4 clunks as well in the same situations like what you had described. Also sometimes when coming off the red light it clunks. I don’t know what causes it. Not super concerned.


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[Mr Makai]

Mine as well

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[dubless]

Same minor clunking noises on my 19’ 4x4 Pass as well as my 16’ 2wd Crew. Fairly common from what I’ve read.

 

[VAN7]

I test drove a brand new 4x4 144, it had a definite clunk in the rear, a little concerning when test driving an 75k van!

 

[HRvan]

I test drove a brand new 4x4 144, it had a definite clunk in the rear, a little concerning when test driving an 75k van!

Have had a 2019 144 4x4 for 5 months. Clunking was much more noticeable (louder and more frequent) when the van was newer. Had it checked by dealer - no issues.
Hear it once in awhile now, but zero problems with drive train, including significant AWD use.

 

[doajlo]

From my experience with 3/4 ton vehicles, this is normal. Also when you put the van in park before you set your hand break then weight from the truck is placed on the driveline so when you put it back into drive it going feel a big cluck.

 

[Wrinkledpants]

Ive been driving my 2019 4x4 Crew Van for a little over a month now, put about 2400 miles on it and I've been noticing a concerning sound from the rear of the truck. when I shift from park to drive, sometimes I hear a small clunking sound, which I image is the transmission shifting, okay fine. But sometimes as I pull away from a stop, with light acceleration I hear a more pronounced "CLUNK" from the rear, and its making me nervous... I am going tp bring it in for service, but since I can replicate it 10 times out of 10, I think the dealer is going to tell me I'm crazy....

Has anyone else experienced this in the 2019 4x4?

Only time I hear a clunk shifting out of park is when the vehicle has rolled back against the transmission (parking on a hill). I do not hear any noises when accelerating from a stop.

 

[freelance travelers]

My 2015 4x4 had the same rest thunk I took it to the dealer and there was a service bulletin for this issue , the remedy was to use a specific grease on the rear differential input shaft? Seemed kind of cheesy but it worked still not thunking 20,000 miles later?

 

[MDS]

I also have the clunk, and a slight shudder after shifting from reverse to drive, even when I purposefully come to a dead stop in reverse before shifting to drive (flat ground).

I asked the dealer to check it, they basically blew it off.

So I no longer worry about it.

 

[Built.Vans]

Yup. Been having the exact same experience. I've had mine since 12/24 with about 3k miles. It has developed a clunk when shifting into gear, and if not exactly when shifting into gear, it happens when I start moving from a stop.

Ive been driving my 2019 4x4 Crew Van for a little over a month now, put about 2400 miles on it and I've been noticing a concerning sound from the rear of the truck. when I shift from park to drive, sometimes I hear a small clunking sound, which I image is the transmission shifting, okay fine. But sometimes as I pull away from a stop, with light acceleration I hear a more pronounced "CLUNK" from the rear, and its making me nervous... I am going tp bring it in for service, but since I can replicate it 10 times out of 10, I think the dealer is going to tell me I'm crazy....

Has anyone else experienced this in the 2019 4x4?

 

[Deleted member 50714]

Not sure if it applies to the VS30's but discussions relating to similar complaints regarding NCV's had something to do about applying Loctite to the tranny's splined output shaft.

 

[Airtime]

My 2015 4x4 had the same rest thunk I took it to the dealer and there was a service bulletin for this issue , the remedy was to use a specific grease on the rear differential input shaft? Seemed kind of cheesy but it worked still not thunking 20,000 miles later?

My new 2019 had the clunk as well. The dealer mentioned a service bulletin that sounds like the same thing, said that it was not yet "official" on the 2019s but they did it anyway and it worked. I'm curious to know more about it, will ask next time I'm in.

 

[aviatordoc]

can someone post the details on the service bulletin, please.

 

[Deleted member 50714]

can someone post the details on the service bulletin, please.

I have many times. Got dog piled for it, Implying I didn't know what the fugg I was talking about when I was simply SHARING what I've read from Mercedes-Benz inner sanctum of BIG DATA.

Apply NEATLY, locating or positioning hash marks common to prop shaft and transmission output splined shaft. Remove shaft, Apply blue (verify) Loctite, quantity not specified, re-clock re-install prop-shaft one spline, test drive. Repeat as necessary. Inspect all yokes are in line.

Yellow paint marker da bomb.

Report back?

 

[Built.Vans]

Yup. Van went in the other day for the clunk. They said the bulletin suggested the Loctite fix. Called today to say its fixed. It was also in for an issue I had when I put it into 4x4 the other day, there was an update for it and now say it worked fine on multiple attempts. I asked them to check for an update for the ALKA system, will report back to see what they say.

 

[chriszep]

Yup. Van went in the other day for the clunk. They said the bulletin suggested the Loctite fix. Called today to say its fixed. It was also in for an issue I had when I put it into 4x4 the other day, there was an update for it and now say it worked fine on multiple attempts. I asked them to check for an update for the ALKA system, will report back to see what they say.

Thats good to hear, I feel like the "clunk" has gotten more frequent in my van, ive gotta call and bring it in. Did they give you any further information on the bulletin? Id love to go to the dealer with as much info as possible because my dealer is likely to have no idea what im talking about.

thanks!

 

[Built.Vans]

Word for word from my service doc.

"Bulletin available for 906 Chassis but not 907 as of yet. Movement in transfer case splines. Performed bulletin LI28.00-N-063339. Applied Loctite to both output shaft splines. Reassembled vehicle. Let vehicle sit overnight to allow loctite to cure. Function check next morning, noise gone."

Drove it today and performed function which would cause "clunk" and it is in fact gone.

Hope this helps. My dealer has been amazing so far! They also performed an update on the 4x4 system which solved another issue and an update on the camera system which hopefully helps with the Lane Keep Assist.