I started by replacing the oil in the transmission and front diff. Then I replaced the rear diff and transfer case fluid. After I replaced the trans oil and filter, Purolator, I started to get a noise at start up and during idle. After changing the filter and fluid as I thought it had something to do with using Dexron III, I flushed everything out through the radiator/trans line with Dexron VI. New problem, old one went away, supposedly a sonic weld on the filter was bad, so I replaced it with a WIX off Amazon. I now had a growl and slight vibration from around 30 MPH to at least 55 MPH with it getting the worst at 45 MPH. I replaced the filter again with an ACDelco one as I thought it was again the filter problem. Still having the same problem and my wife not hearing anything in the car, I decided to take it to a trans mechanic to see what he thought.
What the mechanic told me after we took it for a road test and he showed me how to test for wheel bearings that it indeed was my wheel bearing started making a growl about a month and a half ago. It just happened to be a coincidence that it started to make the noise at the same time I was doing all the other PM work. I have an appointment for this to be changed in a little less than 2 weeks from now. I was wondering what would be the consequence of driving without fixing this problem for as long as I have and what is the safety margin before something has to be done? I just realized that it did start making a slight metal grinding when going through drive thrus about 4 months ago but thought it was the dust shield hitting the rotor. I had taken off the tire and bent it away from where it looked like it was hitting. I transport my 18 month old son from daycare home and drive about 25 miles to work each way. I just don't know what will happen now that it is growling and want to be able to drive safely until the repair can be done. Any Help will be greatly appreciated!!
What the mechanic told me after we took it for a road test and he showed me how to test for wheel bearings that it indeed was my wheel bearing started making a growl about a month and a half ago. It just happened to be a coincidence that it started to make the noise at the same time I was doing all the other PM work. I have an appointment for this to be changed in a little less than 2 weeks from now. I was wondering what would be the consequence of driving without fixing this problem for as long as I have and what is the safety margin before something has to be done? I just realized that it did start making a slight metal grinding when going through drive thrus about 4 months ago but thought it was the dust shield hitting the rotor. I had taken off the tire and bent it away from where it looked like it was hitting. I transport my 18 month old son from daycare home and drive about 25 miles to work each way. I just don't know what will happen now that it is growling and want to be able to drive safely until the repair can be done. Any Help will be greatly appreciated!!