Rear end noise?

[Prime]

On the way home from dinner, I seemed to notice a high pitched mechanical noise coming from the back of the truck. At lower speeds it was a grinding noise that I really didn't like. Definitely speed related. I'm gonna pull the drain plugs and check the rear end tomorrow. Anything else that anyone can think of to look at?

 

[Prime]

Also, just tested the locker. It still engages, but it took me backing up to get it to disengage after the air was turned off.

I'm thinking I have a diff leak.

 

[metzican]

That is not good, The last time I had a noise the shield that goes over the brake caliper was slightly bent and rubbing slightly. No grinding but a squeal for sure.

 

[Prime]

Seeing as how I have drums, I doubt that's it.

 

[Silver dude]

Seems a normal opperation for your locker. If the shafts are under tension it might take a little maneuvering to free the lock. If the seals were bad it simply would leak air and maybe not engage. Air has nothing to do with the disengagement. Unless you're referring to a oil leak. But, even that would have to be pretty bad for quite some time. Bearings and gears would likely fry and present issues before the locker would have issues.

Your issue to me sounds like U-joints. I'd jack the rear way up in the air and remove the 4 bolts from the shaft. If the rear is way up in the air you don't have worry about spilling transfer case oil out of the slip yoke. Take the shaft out and rotate the u joints in all directions by hand. They are sneaky. Might look fine on the outside occasionally even be decently tight. But, be dry of lube and squeekin like hell. It was really hard to pinpoint the noise source as I just rebuilt the trans and transfer.it got the point that I put it up on jackstands and took the tires off started it up put it in drive and crawled under. Then and only then did the noise source become clear.

Could be rear drums as well if the parking brake hangs up it can create dragging. The levers are notorious for freezing as rust builds in the crevice. A brake spring could be snapped and dragging in the drum. Or even a small rock.

Lift the rear axle up off the ground rotate your tires by hand. You'll likely hear the noise and quickly be able to identify the source. If its brake related. If you don't find anything in park shift to neutral lock the diff and rotate again. That way you rotate the axle internals and can further troubleshoot for noise.

 

[Prime]

Good looking out. I will do these things.

But, what is this "park" and "drive" you speak of? I completely understand "neutral" but those other two are foreign terms to me.

 

[Prime]

So I put the axle on stands and put it into gear. At low speeds I didn't hear anything. Once I got it above 30, this happens.

http://youtu.be/lB4KsGINYN4

I put my hand on it and it's DEFINITELY coming from the diff. Next I'm gonna drain the fluid and have a look.

 

[Prime]

Well damnit! That's not a good looking magnet.

 

[Prime]

I'm gonna go ahead and refill the oil and I guess take it to the place that did the locker this week. Hopefully it's just a bearing and not something more serious.

 

[TJTJ]

When you put in the locker, did you also change the gears?

 

[Prime]

No. No gear swap.

 

[metzican]

How many miles do you have on the locker?

 

[Prime]

No more than 20k.

 

[Silver dude]

Good looking out. I will do these things.

But, what is this "park" and "drive" you speak of? I completely understand "neutral" but those other two are foreign terms to me.

Lol foreign to me aswell. Mines also a Mans trans.

Magnet looks no good man. Similar to when my trans munched a gear. You're correct in that they likely didn't preload the carrier bearings correctly when they installed the locker. Likely ran to loose and the bearing disintegrated or to tight and galled them to hell.

 

[Prime]

Its at the shop now.....Should hear something tomorrow or Wednesday.

Was thinking about it today, I hope its just a bearing, but even if its not, ARB's are rebuildable. My main concern is that the R&P are still in good shape.

 

[xterraminator]

Any update what was the problem?

 

[Prime]

Forgot about this thread.

Resolution is here in the build thread.

http://www.xterranation.org/showthread.php?p=218348