Drivetrain/Bearing/Torque Convertor? Noise

[~CrazyDiesel~]

I have had this noise for the past 5k or so, at first it began gradually, and was just barely noticable (we figured it was the recent new tires "singing")


But recently, within the past 500 miles (took a 300 mile trip yesterday)

The noise has gotten much, much worse, you can feel it in the truck.


The noise could be described, like the sound of a wheel bearing, except when driving, from anywhere from 45 in OD- however fast you want to go, if you let off of the throttle totally, it seems to almost go away, it might just be my imagination you though. Comes back after torque convertor un-locks

Noise seems to be with revolution of tires. I have shut engine off, and in neutral and can still hear it. Plan to try to find steep, smooth asphalted hill with no traffic to put transfer case in N, to isolate the transmission from the driveshaft, see if it continues to make the noise.


This is really baffling me, it sounds like a wheel bearing, but also seems to go away with throttle position variance.


Now,

The left front wheel assy has two knocks against it which point to it.

1. left front tire was hit by a dodge caravan while we were making a U-turn (she tried to cut inside of our turning radius, and t-boned us on the tire, also messed up fender and steering wheel position, DUMMY) I do not believe wheel bearing assy was replaced at this time.

2. I used to, when we had Michelin A/S tires on here (god they were so sticky!) I would take this exit on I-85, that is a 25 mph exit, when I had a friend in the truck, at 57 mph(without squall now), right turn, has a fair banking to it as well, lots and lots and lots of rubber on the concrete from the hundreds of dump trucks that make the turn at breakneck speed everyday (The concrete is black, and very sticky) (Now with Michelin M/S tires, i cannot make same turn at 42 without squalling severely, anyway)

I can take video of the noise when I have the engine shut off and let the truck roll down a hill.


Now,

With stock brakes, and other things assuming. How easy should the front tires be to turn with them off the ground? We had the tires rotated 3k ago, and when i tried to turn the front tires, i could only get 1/4-1/2 of a revolution out of either tire ( i checked the hubs to make sure they werent locked) This would also point to wheel bearings would it now? But the noise goes away partially as aforementioned.


On EDIT: I remember that if I lock the hubs on asphalt, the noise does not go away, i can also engage 4x4 in a straight line, and it does not go away ( hubs locked, or un-locked)
Can I remove the 4x4 hub/s and still drive the truck? (Would be just to see if it's the hub's bearings)
Will the wheel bearings be visible under the 4x4 hub/s? I will not be doing the major work myself, (unless i can be convinced that I can do it with limited tools) however, I want to be prepared, and know exactly what's wrong so I don't have to pay a diagnostic fee for them to find out what's wrong.

Another thing, assuming it is the wheel bearing/s, would you go ahead and do ball joints, with the truck's history (87,600, and due for an oil change)


I also have incredible backlash in the rear that has been there for 70+k miles, have to be careful how hard you go from throttle to no throttle, back to throttle, will jerk and sound like something broke.


Also, i dunno if this is related, but in the past 500-600 miles I have noticed the truck bucking ever so slightly around 40-45 in OD (also where this noise it the loudest)


Thanks in Advance for the HELP!!!!

[Logan]

Not sure, but I will bump it for ya so maybe someone else will see it.

When's the next edition of the Novel due?

[straycat]

Hey Crazy, how you bin doing. Have you done any work under the dash in the last little while? One of the other guys spent a bunch of time trying to find a similar noise, and it turned out to be the plug under the dash through the fire wall was out of place and the noise was just the normal noise outside of the cab, but now he could hear it because of the plug being out of place. Just a thought, hope it helps.

Gord.

[stroker27]

put your truck on jackstands and put it in gear and see if u can follow the nosie. you DEFINETELY should be able to turn your tire FREELY. if the hubs are indeed unlocked, look back there and see if it REALLY is. it usually takes awhile for these to unlock make sure your driveshaft is not turning. if it does it with the engine off and in nuetral with your truck on jackstands, turn your engine off and put it in nuetral turn your drivetrain by hand with 4x4 engaged and without. what it sounds like to me is a off balance driveline. or the bearing in your output shaft on your t-case. could also be a loose u-joint. your truck is a 4x4 so u have a crap load of u joints. go around and see if they are loose!. get under your truck and try to move the driveline. thats really what it sounds like. your driveline should have a slipyoke in it, make sure thats not loose. check your yoke coming out of the rear end make sure thats not loose. im convinced its a driveline. as for the bucking......its either non related to the bearing noise or else im wrong.

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Last edited by stroker27 : 02-23-2007 at 03:23 AM.

[~CrazyDiesel~]

Ok,

I have a small problem , I do not own a good set of jackstands that i'd feel safe loading this truck on, and me up under it while the tires are spinning. I suppose I could lift the rear with the jack on the pumpkin, set the axle down on the jackstands?

I assume the lower on the stand height i can get, the more stable it will be?

[stroker27]

it would be better just to raise one side at a time and yes, the lower it is the better off youll be as long as your on level ground. put wheel chocks on your front tires on both sides. ..... i really wouldn't get under there with the tires spinning. i did mention to get under your truck but thats only to check if the driveline has movement, and if it did, it would move with the truck off and in park. you are not checking for rotation movement but for vertical movement, if that makes any sense. push up and down on the driveline near the yokes and check for movement there, check your bolts make sure they havnt backed off. i had an f-150 that the driveline bolts kept backing out on me. I would NOT suggest getting under your truck with the tires spinning. PLEASE DO NOT. the point of putting the rear end on jackstands was to see if it was the front end or the rear end making your noise. and you would be able to tell by letting the tires spin while your IN THE TRUCK. if it makes the nosie then you can probably guess its not the front end. if not set the rear end down and jack the front end up. put your t-case in nuetral lock the hubs and turn your drivetrain. try it with them unlocked as well. hope this helps and good luck! keep us posted on your progress. and anything you find out will help someone help you better.

[~CrazyDiesel~]

I was not going to attempt anything stupid.


What would happen if the truck is in drive, and the thing falls off the jackstands.

My beepbeepbeep is DRT (Dead Right There) and the truck will go wherever trucks that go uncontrolled, go.



I do appreciate the replies. People on the other site don't care enough to reply at all. (arseholes!)

[straycat]

I know what you mean, It's like everythings a big secret hahaha, thats why I like it here, I'd rather have a good guess from someone that gives a s---, than total silence from a bunch of experts. Just my opinion though.

Gord.

[~CrazyDiesel~]

well we're about to turn 91k, and the noie has gotten a bit louder... but the truck still drives normally. Maybe a bit of bucking in drive, but it's so marginal, hardly noticeable, could just be the roads. Now that it's gotten a little louder, I can really confirm that the noise does totally go away when you let off of the fuel with the convertor locked up.

I guess this rules out wheel bearings?? Trans. is only 30~k old on rebuild (never have had to actually have the fluid changed.. it's gone thru so many trans.)

Maybe i can try to find some really smooth road, and coast down a hill with the truck off and hope I can pick up the noise. It's audible to me, but i dunno how well a camera would pick it up.

It does not sound like a early 99 torque converter at idle with the rattle.