Rearend Tick

[msummer]

Now that my cruiser runs, I've started to notice other secondary noises/issues. When I'm coming to a stop and mash the clutch in, I can hear a clicking/ticking sound as I slow down. It's definately sychronized with the wheel speed. My estimate from sticking my head out the window and watching the tires rotate is around 4 clicks per revolution. The noise seems to go away if I give it a little power, but that could just be engine noise. I made the wife get in the back and listen as I drove around (she didn't seem to enjoy this). The wife-o-scope narrowed it down to the back right wheel, but then decided it could be from anywhere around the rear axel.

I'm new to 4WD drive trains, heck RWD for that matter. I've hacked more on 2F2F imports. What tests do I need to do to narrow this down and what could it be. Basically its similar to my mountain bike, when you coast you hear that ratcheting noise. Thanks in advance,
Matt

 

[EarthX]

Same

Not sure what it is................I've noticed the same thing on mine!!!! Id like to know also!.

 

[60wag]

4 clicks per tire rev is awfully close to the speed the driveshaft is spinning. If you haven't yet, crawl under the truck and get familiar with your driveshaft. Make sure none of the flange bolts are loose. Grab the ends and the ujoints and give them a good shake. If anything feels loose - it could be source of the noise.

 

[EarthX]

4 clicks per tire rev is awfully close to the speed the driveshaft is spinning. If you haven't yet, crawl under the truck and get familiar with your driveshaft. Make sure none of the flange bolts are loose. Grab the ends and the ujoints and give them a good shake. If anything feels loose - it could be source of the noise.

I know for a fact its not my drive shaft.........after listening more, I think its comming from the front axle somewhere?!?!

 

[dmwberg]

You sure its not coming from the bellhousing? Sometimes the throwout bearing will 'tick'. Useually happens when the clutch fork wears down its pivot allowing for a little play. Remove the inspection cover and inject a little grease inbetween the fork and pivot and see if it goes away.

 

[NocalFJ60]

Wonder if it would tell you anything to jack up the back and spin the wheels and listen for binding or the clicking sound. Wonder if it could be wheel bearings?


Try hitting a ramp at 45 on one side and get the cruiser up on one side on two wheels like James bond see if you can narrow it down.

 

[Satamax]

Hi guys!

Matt, check your iddler pinion's shaft Even more if it makes noise when you decelerate. A good trick is to ralong the long wall which reverberate the noise to you when you have the pasenger widow open.

Best regards.

Max.

 

[Tinker]

A mechanic's stethoscope is a good investment. I borrowed one from a friend a long time ago & he moved so I still have it (notice how I avoid responsibility for theft by conversion).

Also, check out this site: http://www.ringpinion.com/content/technicalhelp/default.asp?pid=45

 

[msummer]

Thanks for the input. I'll jack it up this weekend and see what I can find. I'm trying to get a new roof this week(I hate hurricanes).

 

[msummer]

A mechanic's stethoscope is a good investment. I borrowed one from a friend a long time ago & he moved so I still have it (notice how I avoid responsibility for theft by conversion).

Also, check out this site: http://www.ringpinion.com/content/technicalhelp/default.asp?pid=45

I found this info from your link.

"A worn side-gear bore in the carrier case will usually cause a clicking sound as the vehicle is coasting down from speeds of about 20 miles per hour to a stop. If the bore that supports the side gear becomes too worn to hold the side gear in place the side gear will "roll over" the spider pinion gears and will make a clicking noise."

Looks like I should check things out soon.

 

[lovetoski]

Maybe this suggestion will sound odd...but how about just changing the gear oil in your rear diff?
Here's my fuzzy logic:
Your diagnosis of where it's coming from makes sense.
You've just got the thing running, so who knows how old the oil is.
Cruisers run bettter/last longer with fresh fluids
Cruisers are overbuilt, so a minor tick might not be a major prob for years
This way you can check the condition of the oil that's in there now.
It's cheap and easy.

 

[msummer]

I think I discovered the tick. My driveshaft was about to fall off. The four bolts that hold the u-joint to the diff chunk where really loose. Must've had around 1/4" of threads to take up. Unfortuneatley I can't confirm that was it yet because I found a huge screw sticking out of my back left tire as I was crawling out from under the cruiser. I unscrewed it and put it up on jack stands till I can plug it tonight.

On a related note, how much twist slop should your driveshaft have when the truck is parked. I've got around a few degrees (pure guestimate) of backlash, is that normal? I'm having doubts about the PO's maintence.

 

[60wag]

Good hear you got it before it fell off.

The pinion shaft should have a good 5 to 10 degrees of backlash. Really worn gears can have up to a quarter rev of backlash.

 

[msummer]

Sounds like I'm alright then. I still need to change all the fluids when I get a chance. Thanks for the suggestions/help guys.

 

[lovetoski]

Changing all the fluids is good. Also, as you found out from the driveshaft bolts, it's good to check ALL suspension bolts/studs. (My driveshaft bolts were loose also.)

 

[HJ61TurboDiesel]

The conclusion: too little of this :

http://www.happcontrols.com/cleaning_maintenance/29114600.htm