Nissan Repair: 06 Frontier SE 4x4 Clank in drive train ?, drive train, clunk

Question
I have a problem with a clanking noise in the drive train just before or after the shift from 1st to 2nd. This problem  appears right after the vehicle has been started. Does not appear again until the vehicle has been shut off and re-started. This problem has appeared in forums on nissanforum.com and edmunds.com. Seems like the resolution for this problem has been elusive, although one guy says it   may be a 'yoke' in the differential having too much play. Have you encountered this problem, before? Please help!  

Answer
Joe,

Yes, the pinion yoke on the rear end is probably the noise as it has play and is considered normal.  If you have the dealer check the play and preload and it falls in the normal range they will not provide a replacement or repair.  Now, you could try a few things here to get the clunk to be less.  Change the rear end lubricant to the thicker fluid.  I think you have 85W90 in the rear end.  Ask the dealer to install 90 weight and see if the noise goes away.  Since the noise only seems to be present when you start up and all the oil is in the bottom of the case you might think of going to synthetic to get more cling on the gears after the truck sits.  Just another option...