ratcheting noise from rear wheels

[Matt&hisbigexpy]

Hello Expy Forum,
I have owned a 2000 Eddie Baur for 5 weeks. It has 184,000 miles. Today it made a clunk (sort of like a transfer case engaging) while driving at about 30 mph. Then it started making a ratcheting noise...sort of like a card in bike spokes or an automatic tranny that was shifted into park while moving. The ratcheting changes speed with the speed of the wheels - speeds up when I speed up, slows down and stops when the car stops. It sounds like it is coming from the rear wheels or differential. i.e. equal volume on both sides when one leans out open rear seat doors, which, yes, I realize is a bad idea!

So: ratcheting, rear wheels, equal on both sides, goes with vehicle speed.

Any ideas? I have wandered through 22 pages of board and cannot find anything.

Thank you!

 

[toms89]

Bad U- Joint??
Damaged tooth on ring or pinion gear??

Bearings, brakes, transmission, transfer case....

 

[Matt&hisbigexpy]

Thanks for the reply. It was the emergency break. The one in the right wheel blew up. A big chunk of the adjuster was clicking around in there.