Need help with bearing noise

[haysonj]

I have a growling noise and need any info on how to isolate it. Sounds like a bearing but I have eliminated the wheels. I put it on jack stands put it in gear and checked with a stethoscope. No noise in trans and no noise at rear end, that leaves the 208 transfer case and the gear vendors OD. there is a lot of noise in both but they are connected with a solid housing. I drained and checked the fluid in both and no sign of metal. Before I start tearing into this does anyone have any ideas on how to isolate the noise. Thanks John

[aventur1]

Mine started doing that just yesterday, not sure what it is yet either. But going to park it till I can inspect it. Which access panel would I pull first to look? At first I thought it was a rattle, but it got worse so I drove straight home and parked it. Will inspect Sunday

[beardface]

You could try putting the truck on 4 jackstands and running it while shifting the t-case and the overdrive. If the noise changes any it could help narrow things down, like if the noise changes when in 4 low or something. it could also not help at all, but i think it would be a good way to start.

[argonaut]

When you drive the vehicle, where does the noise seem to be coming from? front, back, underneath the cab, one particular corner?
Loading on drivetrain parts is not the same on jack stands as it is during driving, braking, cornering conditions.
How did you rule out wheel bearings?

[Rufton]

If you can safely drive it then feel around suspect bearings for heat.
Bearings will heat up before seizing and catastrophic failure.
Trans and diff should be less than about 180F under light load.
IR gun very useful for checking temps.

Make notes if occurs during acceleration, deceleration, cruise, braking, etc.
Maybe some suspects can be eliminated.

On 66 truck it is easy to pull axle out and inspect bearing.

[haysonj]

The noise is constant above 15 MPH and increases with road speed even in neutral and 4H It stays even in or out of OD. While on the jack stands You can definitely hear it and if I use my stethoscope you only hear it on the transfer case and OD unit No noise on rear end, trans, or the axle housing. I called GV and they said unless I ran it out of fluid they are 99% sure it is not the OD so I guess I get to pull the Tcase and tear it down. They did say I could take the OD off and leave the coupler in the Tcase and run it to see if the noise is still there.

[snj8198]

remember a bad drive line u-joint can send the noise through the drive train. even if the joint feels tight the needle bearing can be coming apart inside yet not allowing slop yet. it's easy to check these to eliminate them than it is to pull your tcase. just a thought.

good luck with it

[haysonj]

Originally Posted by snj8198

remember a bad drive line u-joint can send the noise through the drive train. even if the joint feels tight the needle bearing can be coming apart inside yet not allowing slop yet. it's easy to check these to eliminate them than it is to pull your tcase. just a thought.

good luck with it

I'll try to check that they are CV joints on my driveshaft because of the lift and short shaft.

[haysonj]

Just in case anyone is interested the noise is in the Gear Vendors OD No warranty as it is 5 years old but they said they will exchange it for $850. I sent the unit to them so we will see what they say after they tear it down.

[Rufton]

Originally Posted by haysonj

Just in case anyone is interested the noise is in the Gear Vendors OD No warranty as it is 5 years old but they said they will exchange it for $850. I sent the unit to them so we will see what they say after they tear it down.

Is that the one they were 99% sure wasn't the problem?

[snj8198]

Ouch, for $850 could a guy get an exploded diagram of the OD unit and rebuild it themselves?

[haysonj]

Originally Posted by snj8198

Ouch, for $850 could a guy get an exploded diagram of the OD unit and rebuild it themselves?

GV won't give out any info on their units and don't allow anyone to work on them. I can't even get them to tell me what caused it, they just say I over heated it.

[beardface]

That's annoying to put it nicely. Didn't you pay for it? Don't you own it? I agree with SNJ, for $850 I'd want more than 'send it to us, don't work on it'.

[snj8198]

Originally Posted by haysonj

GV won't give out any info on their units and don't allow anyone to work on them. I can't even get them to tell me what caused it, they just say I over heated it.

wow, piss on that. dirty chumps.

that's a real low blow to just jump out there and blame the consumer.

good luck with it.

[72chevyk10]

how is it even possible to "overheat" it?? are there any points in it that slip? i thought those were all mechanical.

[haysonj]

Originally Posted by 72chevyk10

how is it even possible to "overheat" it?? are there any points in it that slip? i thought those were all mechanical.

That is what I thought, you would think the Transmission would overheat before that did. I shipped it to them and he said he would let me know after they tear it down. Although this unit is 5 years old it has less than 10,000 miles due to its use. I do tow the 5000 lb boat in 100 degree heat but that was one of there selling points when I bought it. We will just have to wait and see but I know from past experience they will take no part of the blame.

[aventur1]

I have an NP205 and where the drive shaft comes out the back.... that plate gasket is leaking. What should I know before I tear into it to replace the gasket and what type to buy?

OPPS, thought it was transfer case...got off track here, was thinking of another post...my bad
Thanks

[haysonj]

Originally Posted by aventur1

I have an NP205 and where the drive shaft comes out the back.... that plate gasket is leaking. What should I know before I tear into it to replace the gasket and what type to buy?

OPPS, thought it was transfer case...got off track here, was thinking of another post...my bad
Thanks

You can use a product called "Right Stuff" to make your own, it is like black RTV but better

['63GENIII]

850 buys a 4L80E or a NV4500. Both with OD. And a lot less hassle. Hope they stand behind their product. Let us know how it turns out
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[argonaut]

$850?! Ouch!

At some point I'll be adding overdrive to my truck, to make it a better daily driver or long distance trip vehicle. Been trying to research and decide between a Ranger in front of my SM465, an NV4500 in place of the SM465, or a GV behind the NP205...
I guess that's one point lost for the GV option.

[haysonj]

Just an update on the noise. GV found nothing wrong but did replace the cone clutch and sun gear charged me $300 and shipped it back. Put it in noise was still there. Decided to pull the adapter to check that bearing (which GV had originally told me it never goes out) it was bad. I think the problem started by me not putting enough fluid in the transfer case. My motor manual says 5 pints which is what I put in it. It took a lot more to get the fluid to come out the fill hole so I think that bearing was running dry. GV should have said in their installation instructions that with their adapter the transfer case will take more fluid.

[Rufton]

You found the gremlin which is good.
You'll know to fill to drain plug which is good.

[haysonj]

I have been going to a lot of 4x4 sites and finding a lot of different views on how to fill the T-case some say to fill it to the fill hole others say to keep it one knuckle down and others say to go by the book. My book says 5 pints which I now know is not enough. Some say if you fill it all the way to the fill hole it will blow out the seals under extreme duty but unless the vent is plugged I don't see that. I filled it till it ran out so we will see.

[67swb72klb]

i have allways filled to the bottom of the fill hole and never had a problem for the last 25+ years