New noise in 4wd....

[dom14]

Turbo on the RB30 is a pretty big job... thats prob why so many people do a Skyline transplant instead
The boys on the Skyline and VL Crappadore sites are all over the process for the 30's so some good reading there.

Yeah but, it's becoming increasingly difficult to find a turbo Skyline or a VL.

[Patrol'n]

So here's a short video of a noise I found when checking to see if the pinion bearings had play. It didn't seem to have any play like dom14's video, but with turning the front shaft back and forth a short way, this is a noise I found. My questions are, could this be causing noise at speed with the lever in 4 high and hubs unlocked, is it normal or not, (play in the centre)??? And lastly what could it be causing that and should I be worried, coz at speed it doesn't sound normal!!! Thanks for everyone's ongoing help :-)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Patrol'n]

He's in Bayswater http://www.xlr8fabrications.com/

Awesome fabricator but it is his Patrol knowledge that can really help a bloke out

Well Bayswaters just down the road, might give him a call tomorrow :-)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Patrol'n]

Yeah but, it's becoming increasingly difficult to find a turbo Skyline or a VL.

Plus a few workshops I spoke to aren't keen at all to do a turbo install if I wanted one done professionally, gotta be blokes out there who would do the work I just haven't found em


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dom14]

Plus a few workshops I spoke to aren't keen at all to do a turbo install if I wanted one done professionally, gotta be blokes out there who would do the work I just haven't found em

For a turbo installation, you obviously wanna go to a place specialized in turbos.

[dom14]

So here's a short video of a noise I found when checking to see if the pinion bearings had play. It didn't seem to have any play like dom14's video, but with turning the front shaft back and forth a short way, this is a noise I found. My questions are, could this be causing noise at speed with the lever in 4 high and hubs unlocked, is it normal or not, (play in the centre)??? And lastly what could it be causing that and should I be worried, coz at speed it doesn't sound normal!!! Thanks for everyone's ongoing help :-)

I would say that's the diff gear backlash play, 'cos you're producing the noise by turning the diff/drive shaft. But, judging from the video, I"m wondering whether it's showing bit too much backlash, which also means worn pinion bearing.
But, ideally, you should be able to feel a bearing play the same way you feel wheel bearing play by moving the drive shaft/flange in that manner. The noise is definitely backlash play and noise, but can't say for sure whether it's too much backlash and noise there.
Another important thing is that to feel the pinion bearing play properly, you need to make sure the drive shaft is freely moving and the gearbox/transfer is not engaged, etc.

I remember when I had the handbrake on and the gearbox was engaged(in gear) I couldn't feel any pinion bearing play at all. That 'cos the it tightens up the drive shaft.
So, make sure the transfer is not engaged and the hubs are not locked when you test the front diff pinion bearing for any play.

Also consider diff oil change/oil level check if you haven't done it yet.

[Patrol'n]

I would say that's the diff gear backlash play, 'cos you're producing the noise by turning the diff/drive shaft. But, judging from the video, I"m wondering whether it's showing bit too much backlash, which also means worn pinion bearing.
But, ideally, you should be able to feel a bearing play the same way you feel wheel bearing play by moving the drive shaft/flange in that manner. The noise is definitely backlash play and noise, but can't say for sure whether it's too much backlash and noise there.
Another important thing is that to feel the pinion bearing play properly, you need to make sure the drive shaft is freely moving and the gearbox/transfer is not engaged, etc.

I remember when I had the handbrake on and the gearbox was engaged(in gear) I couldn't feel any pinion bearing play at all. That 'cos the it tightens up the drive shaft.
So, make sure the transfer is not engaged and the hubs are not locked when you test the front diff pinion bearing for any play.

Also consider diff oil change/oil level check if you haven't done it yet.

Hey dom thanks for the reply mate, I think on re reading it my post mighta sounded a bit mechanically naive...

I agree it seems like backlash causing the noise in the video, what I was trying to say whilst tired and frustrated was that I wondered if it was too much / too loud, I have no experience repairing front diff / axles, only rear and wasn't sure if there were differences... I was wondering if it was excessive, whether that could be causing the noise when driving.

I had it in 2wd and hubs were unlocked in the video, when I tried to move it laterally as in your video, it felt tight so I wondered if the rotational noise could be it.

It was also only a couple of months ago that it got a full driveline oil change, (made a huge difference to the smoothness of the gearbox operation, particularly second when cold) :-)

A further update is I spoke to the mechanic today and he had tested it in 4wd with hubs locked, (safely of course), he said the noise disappears. (He even got a second opinion from his usual transmission specialist), I tested this about half an hour ago, and yep, sure enough with hubs locked and in 4wd it makes no noise now, other than a slight increase in general driveline noise, which I would expect with a transfer case and another diff operating.

So whilst that makes it seem that it should be ok, I still wonder why the noise occurs in 4high with hubs unlocked...

Can't figure it out, but given that generally I never drive in 4 high without locking the hubs, do I need to worry?

If I do I'll take E.T.s advice and talk to XLR8 about it.

[dom14]

If the mechanic says it's ok with the aid of a transmission specialist's second opinion, I would leave it the way it is.

The noise you describe may be normal, 'cos the power is not getting transferred to the wheels and the front driveshaft, diff, axle, cvs turn on their own. So, excessive noise should be able to explain that way.
I wanted to put on 4H and drive and see if I get any noise as you describe, but can't 'cos mine won't be running until I finish the work I'm doing right now. Having said that, I think we are not suppose to drive it on highways with 4H or 4L on. I'll wait for somebody with more knowledge on that to post about that. One thing I can assure you is that if you drive with 4H engaged and hubs locked on highways(on a straight line), it will most certainly be noisier than 2H driving.

BTW, front and rear diffs work on the same way. Rear diff is more complicated 'cos it's an LSD. Front is usually an open diff, unless you have diff locker, etc.
If you've done rear diff, then you should be able to do the front diff with your eyes closed.

[Patrol'n]

If the mechanic says it's ok with the aid of a transmission specialist's second opinion, I would leave it the way it is.

The noise you describe may be normal, 'cos the power is not getting transferred to the wheels and the front driveshaft, diff, axle, cvs turn on their own. So, excessive noise should be able to explain that way.
I wanted to put on 4H and drive and see if I get any noise as you describe, but can't 'cos mine won't be running until I finish the work I'm doing right now. Having said that, I think we are not suppose to drive it on highways with 4H or 4L on. I'll wait for somebody with more knowledge on that to post about that. One thing I can assure you is that if you drive with 4H engaged and hubs locked on highways(on a straight line), it will most certainly be noisier than 2H driving.

BTW, front and rear diffs work on the same way. Rear diff is more complicated 'cos it's an LSD. Front is usually an open diff, unless you have diff locker, etc.
If you've done rear diff, then you should be able to do the front diff with your eyes closed.

Cheers mate, I still have a locker on the list for the front, so my first time working on a front diff may well be when it's time to install that. (When motivation is high and laziness / beer drinking is low) lol

[Patrol'n]

Quick update after a camping weekend with some wheeling along the way, all good, no noise and no vibrations. 😀

Cheers all for their input and assistance, would have driven me nuts if it hadn't gotten sorted!