I went thru checking tightness of everything in the rear and lubed
all the joints with some spray.Still makes that annoying clunk in the rear.I took off the rear wheels and pulled on the axles.They move in and out and up and down approx 3/8 an inch on each side.This makes a clunk noise which I know of others are complaining about to.My question is, do the c-clips wear out and cause this or do they make thicker c-clips??Is there any recalls or TSBs out for this??Also how do I know that on clip won't break and my axle goes flying out and my wife gets in a bad wreck and will be ford at blame.I will get in there when it's warmer out and replace the clips,seals and bearings.Are the bearings press fit onto the axle or in the housing??I hope this sheds some light on that annoying rear end clunk.

 

Try This go to a dealer lot or any new f150- expedition and shake the rear of the veh. sideways. you will notice that they all do that. dont replace you seals and bearings unless you find a leak, or something more questionable.

 

I know that they shake but with the tires on side to side doesnt make noise.Its up and down that makes noise and only over bumps.It's the only thing that could make this noise.I pulled the tires off and did this and they move more than they should in and out id one thing but up and down leads me to think its the clunk that I am hearing.I had an old fairmount 302 car that had a 7.5 rear and it made the same clunk and it did it over bumps and while shaking it from side to side.I did go to other exps and f150s to do this and they did not make a noise.It's gotta be the axles in the housing clunking up and down.I do have a slight leak on each side from the seals.Changing the bearings, seals and c-clips isn't that hard.And with the tall tires all you'll get is sidewall flex.I can see it done with low profiles which are stiff.My t-bird has an 8.8 with low profiles on it and it doesn't make a sound over bumps or even with the tires off I can pull in and out and up and down and there is little to no movement.There isn't much difference in my bird 8.8 and the exp 8.8 except length and mounts.