I have a 1988 Trooper II, 4 cylinder, 2.6 liter, manuel 5 speed with 195k miles.


It''s been in our family since it way new and I have just now taken ownership of the shoebox, saving it from my parents giving away to charity.


I have noticed a loud deep banging noise at freeway speed. The first timeI heard it I thought it was some ones exhaust next to me and it went away. I began to hear it more often at speeds of 45-60 mph comming from the rear. There is no shutter in the wheel or anywhere else in the rig. I thought it might be the tires. The Trooper sat for a while and was drive seldom over the past 4 years. The tires have lots of tread but are 10 years old. I thought the tread might be comming apart but Les Schwab said they look fine and cannot find the issue. The banging noise comes and goes not lasting for more than 15-30 seconds at a time. On a 24 mile commute I might hear it 6-7 times. I replaced the left rear wheel bearing, that needed to be replaced, thinking that was the problem. No dice! It just doesn''t sound like a wheel bearing.


Any thoughts???