Strange noise from front transmission?

[CaptainBeaky]

Hi All

Not been around for a while...
3rd Gen, driven in H4:
I have an odd noise started up yesterday - a low whine coming from under the front somewhere, starting at about 35mph.
- I can feel the noise through my feet as well, but not through the steering.
- The noise is louder under load or on overrun.
- The noise almost disappears if I switch from H4 to H2

Suggestions, please? My usual mechanic had a quick look this morning, and thought it might be wear to the crown wheel in the front diff.

Could this be something silly like low oil levels in the diff or transfer box? (Slightly reluctant to dive under the truck in the present conditions )

Any other ideas?


TIA

[CaptainBeaky]

Update:

Noise goes away in 2WD.
There is an oil leak under there somewhere, and it smells like diff oil...

[sabreuk]

I had the same thing a while ago the whine then went to a vibration then to a banging, changed front diff wasn't that, changed tranny fluid wasn't that, turned out it was the main prop uj warn to the exctent that it fell off when I went to fix it. Put your hand brake on and in neutral go underneath and wobble the 3 props mine was the main prop but felt and sounded as though it was coming from the front. If you can wobble it you need a new uj £15 off eBay £20 ish from Roughtrax. Hope this helps a bit.

[CaptainBeaky]

I had the same thing a while ago the whine then went to a vibration then to a banging, changed front diff wasn't that, changed tranny fluid wasn't that, turned out it was the main prop uj warn to the exctent that it fell off when I went to fix it. Put your hand brake on and in neutral go underneath and wobble the 3 props mine was the main prop but felt and sounded as though it was coming from the front. If you can wobble it you need a new uj £15 off eBay £20 ish from Roughtrax. Hope this helps a bit.

Hah! That sounds like a distinct possibility - I could feel a bit of play in the front propshaft when I tried to move it.

[sabreuk]

mine started like yours mate so the uj is probably just on the way out so you might of caught it early bud. if you are stuck i have a spare uj in the garage if you cant get hold of one. just giz a shout.

[BUSHWHACKER]

mine started like yours mate so the uj is probably just on the way out so you might of caught it early bud. if you are stuck i have a spare uj in the garage if you cant get hold of one. just giz a shout.

Is it the same for a 3rd gen?

[CaptainBeaky]

mine started like yours mate so the uj is probably just on the way out so you might of caught it early bud. if you are stuck i have a spare uj in the garage if you cant get hold of one. just giz a shout.

Thanks, bud, I'll bear that in mind

Is it the same for a 3rd gen?

Dunno...

And hi Vince Newbie????

[sabreuk]

yes mate it is the same for 3rd gen surfs if the uj cups are warn you will start getting a whining noise then a vibration then eventualy it will sound like the truck is going to fall apart on you, mine got this stage but it took around a month or so for it to get that bad. again when your checking your props make sure you have the handbrake on and in neutral esp if its an auto if you dont and have it in p the props lock under the weight and you could miss the suspect uj i know i made that mistake which is why it took so long to find. then if your prop is loose by wobbling it you will feel play on the joint, like i said mine was that bad the knuckle fell apart. a cheap fix is greese it if its a greesable joint if its not you will need to replace it.

[CaptainBeaky]

yes mate it is the same for 3rd gen surfs if the uj cups are warn you will start getting a whining noise then a vibration then eventualy it will sound like the truck is going to fall apart on you, mine got this stage but it took around a month or so for it to get that bad. again when your checking your props make sure you have the handbrake on and in neutral esp if its an auto if you dont and have it in p the props lock under the weight and you could miss the suspect uj i know i made that mistake which is why it took so long to find. then if your prop is loose by wobbling it you will feel play on the joint, like i said mine was that bad the knuckle fell apart. a cheap fix is greese it if its a greesable joint if its not you will need to replace it.

A little more reading of the book and - that's what my workshop manual refers to as the "spider", and regards as the most likely culprit in cases of transmission noise.

It has grease nipples, but if it's started to whine, I suspect greasing it will only hide the problem for a short while. Time to crawl under the truck again... (in the New Year )

[sabreuk]

cool try greesing but if there is play there it will just get worse bud, best of changing it and have done with it.

[CaptainBeaky]

An update again - had my usual garage look at it: there is an oil leak from the diff, and one of the drive-shaft bearings is wobbling.

However, they say they can't find anyone to rebuild the diff after changing the seal and bearing, so I would be better off getting another complete diff.

Seriously?

Anyone know any good places to get this done in the SouthEast?

[CaptainBeaky]

And another update...

Took it along to a transmission specialist, who put it up on the lift and showed me the problem.

The front diff is shot Half-inch of lateral play on the drive shaft going into the diff, pinion skipping on the crown wheel

Lots of money