4L60E Squeak
 

My 4L60E has been squeaking for a while. Turning the tires with the rear end off the ground or running the vehicle it is clearly audible, and it sound likes it is in the rear half of the transmission.

I thought the output shaft snap ring failed, but when I removed the transfer case, the shaft felt solid and wouldn't move more than 1/8".

So, what is likely wrong with this 4L60E? It is a 1997 model with I suspect about 250,000 miles. Not sure how many on the rebuild though. I've read that sometime a rear planet will cause the squeak. Any thoughts?

Re: 4L60E Squeak
 

I have found that a 3 foot section of stiff garden hose works good as a stethoscope to isolate noises to a particular area. You can direct one end to the suspected area without you or your hand getting in the way.

Since you can duplicate the squeak while parked, you may be able to isolate the exact location on your truck (safety in mind, of course) or you can take it to a shop with a lift to see if they can at least locate the area it's coming from.

Re: 4L60E Squeak
 

Sounds like you are turning the roller clutch. They make that squeaking noise when turned in the freewheel direction. Completely normal

That would not be normal for the transmission. Sure it's not a U-joint?

Re: 4L60E Squeak
 

Does the noise change when the transmission shifts to different gears ? Or does it make noise in every gear ? Does the noise go away at all ?

Re: 4L60E Squeak
 

I'm very sure it isn't a u-joint. I crawled under it while running and shut-off. Any time the tires are turning it can be heard.

When the gf first mentioned it, I thought it was a u-joint or some brake noise, but the noise is definitely coming from the transmission output shaft in some way. It must be something directly splined to the output since it doesn't change speed/pitch when going from 1-2 or 2-3. The noise is about the same volume any time the vehicle is moving, and around about 30-35 mph, road noise/wind noise is louder than the squeak.

Re: 4L60E Squeak
 

Could be the rear torrington bearing that sits against the case and the ring gear. Just a guess....

You had mentioned you pulled the Transfer case out, did you drop the transmission pan to see if any thing in the pan (metal)....

Re: 4L60E Squeak
 

I haven't pulled the pan yet.

I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do. I have other projects going on and this was supposed to be a weekend sort of deal, but I think I'm going to have to rebuild the transmission.

Re: 4L60E Squeak
 

Well, you are half way there with the transfer case pulled already....an hour or so the transmission would be on your bench...GOOD LUCK !!!!!

Did you start another thread regarding the build list for this transmission.....sun shell failed ? You lose gears when the sun shell fails....can you tell us which gears you lost....noise in all gears ?
Noise in Reverse too ? No Reverse ?

Re: 4L60E Squeak
 

That transmission failed about 2 years ago, maybe 3. Didn't have time to rebuild it then, and just swapped in a used unit and figured I would rebuild it later on. That seems to have come now that the transmission in it has failed.

The other transmission failed randomly one day. Worked fine everyday up to that. I pulled out on the highway from a stop. Accelerated through first, shifted into second, and got a ridiculously loud grinding and no power.

Reverse and 2nd were out. Still had first, but never confirmed 3rd or 4th.

The noise sounded like someone stripping out the head on a phillips screw with a drill, only about 10 times louder.

Re: 4L60E Squeak
 

These forums are great .....now I have a squeak in my 4l80E only in second...can you help me out with my problem...by the way I have all my gears....

Re: 4L60E Squeak
 

Re: 4L60E Squeak
 

Should I open my own thread on my issue I have now ?

Re: 4L60E Squeak
 

I thought you were a transmission expert???

Re: 4L60E Squeak
 

So with this question in mind, I can not open my own thread because you say I am a expert ? :smoke: