Chasing Slack

[jmcash]

2003 Dodge Ram 1500 4.7 Magnum V8, SLT Quad Cab, 4WD, 5 speed manual trans. Recently rebuilt rear differential, replaced pinion, carrier, and axle bearings and races. Replaced ring and pinion gears, and spider gears. Used Yukon rebuild kits for all 3. replaced u joints. There is still slack in the drive though. It makes a metal clunk when put into gear, Or when decelerating , say in 2nd gear, the truck will lunge back and forth. The best way I can think to describe it is having slack in the driveshaft. Well the rear end is right now. How hard is it to repair the transfer case? Im thinking the issue is that the chains are stretched. How can I figure out what transfer my truck has so that I can get the parts ordered. Its dead winter here in Michigan and I cant be without my truck. Thanks in advance.

 

[FL BOY]

Your transfer case should have a red and silver tag on it with the info your looking for

 

[jmcash]

Alrighty, Ive gotta find somewhere I can crawl underneath and take a peak at the TC. But on a side note, Am I alone in thinking that this is where my problems are? I had this old mechanic tell me that it was my throw out bearing that was causing the slack, and while Im no master mechanic (although I am in school) I just cant see how a throw out bearing could be causing the slack when its not making any noise or grinding and still shifts in and out of gear just fine.

 

[jmcash]

Well, I didnt get a chance to get it on a lift yet, But while getting the TC info I grabbed the driveshaft and I could turn it back and forth. Kinda upset about this. Ive got over 900 in the rear diff. alone now. I feel like I could have bought a brand new rear diff. for just a few hundred more. What I did learn is that the TC (NP241) is fine, I was just screwed over.
*edit* So Im back to square one here. I went back to the mechanics that did the repair work on the rear diff. and explained to them that I was still having the same issue with having "slack" in the drive shaft and that I could turn the drive shaft itself by hand before it would catch in the rear end and make a clunk sound. They had me drive them down the road and show them what I was talking about I pointed out the slack and how it bangs when releasing the clutch, the mechanics said it was because I wasnt releasing the clutch fast enough, but releasing it too fast slips the clutch and makes the truck lunge forward. I also showed them how when I would be in a parking lot (their own), that in 3rd, 2nd, 1st. It would bang back and forth if I decelerated without holding in the clutch They went on to say that its normal, that all trucks do it. I tried to argue with them that I have had 2 other manual trans full size trucks and that they did nothing of the sort. But all I got was that I was too paranoid and "using the internet too much". Does anyone know whats going on with my truck? similiar experience? same issues? Please help.