2011 4wd, 187k mi. I have what sounds like a clunking noise when listening inside, more of a ping when listening from outside whenever I change directions Fwd to Rev, or Rev to Fwd. Also when going over bumps that cause the car to have any rolling motion. Not when I hit normal bumps. It is fairly loud.

I put it on stands and can replicate the noise by manually turning the front tires quickly. From underneath, the sound seems to be coming from the transfer assembly area and radiating through the drive shaft, but it's kind of hard to tell. The sound there it more of a ringing - like metal hitting metal as in a single tap with a hammer. There seems to be a bit more play than normal when spinning the tires before the drive engages. That may be my imagination. Engine mounts look OK, and there doesn't seem to be any excess motor movement under torque. Brakes are proper.

Any suggestions as to what may be causing this? Transfer assembly, maybe? Something deeper in the trans?

Recent parts: CV axels, struts, ball joints, sway bar links, and outer tie rod ends. Trans fluid change not due for a couple months. External trans cooler installed. I'm a rural mailman, so 300 miles of dirt roads a week make suspension and brake replacements continual.