Drivetrain noise need help.

[SS Laser]

First post here. Found this forum thanks to May03LT. Also have to thank him for the helpful and funny video's.

So my wifes 06 TB LS had a whining noise in part time 4WD. It had 81k so I figured fluid was old an worn out or low. Never seen a drop of fluid on the garage floor. We bought this at 60'ish thousand miles so I don't have any service records.

I replaced the transfer case fluid after watching May03LT video and still had the whining noise. Figured it was the front diff. Watched May03LT for the front diff fluid change and replaced it. So after both fluid changes it still has the whining noise only with the transfer case engaged.

Anyone have any insight on what I should do next? We bought this TB to have 4WD, it is our bad weather vechicle. I just bought some winter tires for the wife so she should not need 4WD much till I figure a fix unless winter blows up .

Thanks for any help.

 

[Wooluf1952]

Welcome

In case you haven't heard:
http://gmtnation.com/f5/welcome-gmtnation-com-heres-story-226/

When you changed the t-case fluid, did two quarts drain out? How dirty was it?
Do you hear the noise in 4HI and 4LO, too?

 

[SS Laser]

Welcome

In case you haven't heard:
http://gmtnation.com/f5/welcome-gmtnation-com-heres-story-226/

When you changed the t-case fluid, did two quarts drain out? How dirty was it?
Do you hear the noise in 4HI and 4LO, too?

Yes sir I read some of that thread.

Almost 2 quarts drained out the T-case. But I lost some on the ground so it might have been right on. Not super dirty and no metal or anything weird. I bet the t-case was done before. The t-case was dry and clean under there also. Also it was easy to remove drain and fill plugs. Thinking of that the front diff drain and fill was very easy to remove. Might have been done before also. Not sure why with no service limit ment. Yes the noise is there in all 4WD modes. Louder in 4hi and low then 4AWD.

Keep the questions coming if that helps. I will answer as best I can so this can be fixed.

 

[Harpo]

You probably has the same problem i had.

It turned out to be a bearing in the TC.


There is a video of the sound over at the OS that i uploaded. Sorry no link, but do a search and i think you will find it.

 

[The_Roadie]

Welcome! Did she run around a lot in A4WD mode when it wasn't snow or ice on the road? Mere wet roads aren't a good idea to use that mode, due to wear on the transfer case clutch plates and other parts. Bearings shouldn't wear out that early, but it's possible. And if you bought it used, it's possible the previous owner ignored the 50K fluid change interval, ran the transfer case dry and damaged it, then the place you bought it could have refilled the TC with fresh fluid to scam you and not reveal the history. How many miles on the truck now?

Could also be the splined disconnect on the right side of the oil pan - check the passenger side CV shaft for play where it enters the disconnect assembly.

Running it in A4WD mode while on a lift should help you pinpoint the noise. It may not be a total DIY project.

 

[SS Laser]

You probably has the same problem i had.

It turned out to be a bearing in the TC.


There is a video of the sound over at the OS that i uploaded. Sorry no link, but do a search and i think you will find it.

Did you have a shop find the problem? Did a shop fix the problem? The OS = other site? I am sure I can find that video. Thanks for the info!

 

[SS Laser]

Welcome! Did she run around a lot in A4WD mode when it wasn't snow or ice on the road? Mere wet roads aren't a good idea to use that mode, due to wear on the transfer case clutch plates and other parts. Bearings shouldn't wear out that early, but it's possible. And if you bought it used, it's possible the previous owner ignored the 50K fluid change interval, ran the transfer case dry and damaged it, then the place you bought it could have refilled the TC with fresh fluid to scam you and not reveal the history. How many miles on the truck now?

Could also be the splined disconnect on the right side of the oil pan - check the passenger side CV shaft for play where it enters the disconnect assembly.

Running it in A4WD mode while on a lift should help you pinpoint the noise. It may not be a total DIY project.

I guess she used 4AWD mode in light snow to wet roads more then few times last winter. We will have to be more careful with this type of AWD. In her old 97 jeep she was used to running it in AWD for most of the winter with no problems. We just bought the TB last May (2011) with 6?,xxx form a private owner. And yes it may have not had the t-case fluid changed at 50k. I just changed the t-case and front diff fluid at 81,297 miles. There is 82,xxx on there now. I will look into more info on the splined disconnect. So I understand what that is and what it does. I will check the CV tonight and run it on the lift. I am puting the winter tires on tonight. Well if it turns out to be the TC I will more then likely get a junkyard unit and install it myself. Not sure there is anyone around here that I trust to rebuild the TC.

Thanks for the ideas and help!

 

[The_Roadie]

...I will look into more info on the splined disconnect. So I understand what that is and what it does. ...

Best tutorials are on a sister site I'm a partner in: Offroadtb.com.

Offroadtb.com Front Axle 4WD Disconnect

Offroadtb.com Transfer Case Operation: NVG 226 (NP8)

 

[SS Laser]

Best tutorials are on a sister site I'm a partner in: Offroadtb.com.

Offroadtb.com Front Axle 4WD Disconnect

Offroadtb.com Transfer Case Operation: NVG 226 (NP8)

Opps! I did not wait for a reply and Googled splined diconnect. Of coures the other site came up and you had a post there with this link. I will try to do a good job checking this out later today to give GMTN more info into my problem. Also thanks for the links I will read the TC one also.

 

[The_Roadie]

Opps! I did not wait for a reply and Googled splined diconnect.

I like your style!

 

[Harpo]

I found the thread over there, here is a link or two.

Help with diagnosing sound (video inside) - Chevy TrailBlazer, TrailBlazer SS and GMC Envoy Forum
[SOLVED] Transmission noise, might be your TC - Chevy TrailBlazer, TrailBlazer SS and GMC Envoy Forum

To test if it might be the same problem i had, put the selector in auto 4wd and if the sound than is there but faint
and gets more intense if you push it to actually engage 4wd by spinning your rear tires, then you probably got your answer.


Listen to the video to compare sounds.

Good luck

 

[SS Laser]

I found the thread over there, here is a link or two.

Help with diagnosing sound (video inside) - Chevy TrailBlazer, TrailBlazer SS and GMC Envoy Forum
[SOLVED] Transmission noise, might be your TC - Chevy TrailBlazer, TrailBlazer SS and GMC Envoy Forum

To test if it might be the same problem i had, put the selector in auto 4wd and if the sound than is there but faint
and gets more intense if you push it to actually engage 4wd by spinning your rear tires, then you probably got your answer.


Listen to the video to compare sounds.

Good luck

Thank you sir. I will check the links out tomorrow. I have a small update before I compare the sounds.

So for my update. I change out 3 discover something (I forget the style right now). And 1 different style tread tire of a off brand name. All the same size but a tad different tread depth. When I measured them tonight it was all 3 discover at maybe 2 or 3/32. The different style tread had maybe 4 or 5/32. Had that different style tread on there maybe 4 months. The wife and I was coming back from the store on the highway and ended up with a all metal valve stem stuck in the now flat junk tire. So I grabbed a used tire for the summer. Because I had planned to put on new tires before winter. Also all the guys I asked about that one tire on the REAR with a different style tread and a tad more tread would not matter at all. Still close enough if needing 4WD.

Well either the sound is gone now with the 4 same style and size. Or I just can not hear it with the tires being loud now. Dang winter tread. It is not over yet. I still need new summer tires so I will get them as soon as I can then test again.

I did run it on the lift buy the way with the new tires on. That was weird also. So I need to explain. I put it in 4low figuring my dad would hear it better. Well I hear it for a few minutes and dad can not pin point it. He asks me what I am running it in so I tell him low. He says try high. Should run fast and be get louder. So I try it. Well the sound is very faint even gone at that point. So we figure there is not enough load on it maybe. Screw it I will drive it and see what happens. So I drive a couple miles home in 4AWD. No noise but the dang tires are loud with both front windows down. So I get a 1/8 of a mile or a tad more from home. It is a straight shot so I try 4hi driving slow. No noise or the dang tires are to loud.

So this will be on hold till I get the other tires and can see if it is still making noise. Thanks everyone for the help!:wootwoot: I am sure I will need help again. Even if this is "fixed".

Take care,
Wayne