Driveshaft squealing/grinding where it meets the transmission?

[Darknight]

Well I had the rear of the truck jacked up today with the transmission in neutral, and when I turn the wheels I am hearing a squealing/grinding noise coming from where the driveshaft meets the transmission. It doesn't sound good and where the driveshaft meets the rearend it doesn't appear to be doing this.

Any ideas as to the problem? And how I could fix it?

 

[Fade 2 Black]

Put the rear on jackstands. Make a mark on the pinion flange to index the drive shaft, remove the 4 bolts for the driveshaft and pull it out of the transmission so you can inspect it. You may also want to chock the front tires for safety's sake. Take pics if you can so we can see what it looks like.

 

[lightninmike]

What he said^^^

 

[Darknight]

Put the rear on jackstands. Make a mark on the pinion flange to index the drive shaft, remove the 4 bolts for the driveshaft and pull it out of the transmission so you can inspect it. You may also want to chock the front tires for safety's sake. Take pics if you can so we can see what it looks like.

Well so far, got it on jackstands but can't get those 4 bolts to budge so I sprayed some penetrating lube on them. Giving it some time to get in there.

Any tips on getting these bolts off without stripping them?.

They aren't reverse threaded by any chance are they?

 

[RIDE THE]

Step on the E brake hard to lock the rear end up and if you don't have an impact gun then just use a rubber mallet on the wrench. Release the brake and turn the driveshaft to get to the remaining bolts.

 

[lightninmike]

No not reverse thread, just a pain in the ass

 

[Darknight]

No not reverse thread, just a pain in the ass

I don't think I have the right tools for it right now. The only thing I have that will fit it is a small 12mm wrench. Its too small to get enough force to move the bolts, if I use another wrench to get a longer torque arm I believe I "technically" could get them off but I can feel the 12mm wrench flexing as I'm doing it so I know it will break. I have no ratchets that have enough room to get on the socket for the bolts. So I will have to buy some better tools this weekend to mess around with it.

BTW, will messed up U-joints cause you to dyno lower?

 

[OH-MAN]

The noises are more than likely the little bearings grinding themselves to death.
Get a six point socket and some adapters to let you use a 1/2" drive rachet.
If the penetrating lube does not work try carefully putting some heat like a small torch(don't get it red hot) on the fastner.
Don't wait too long it will get bad.

 

[Fade 2 Black]

IIRC the flange bolts are 12 point, I could be wrong and it's too cold for me to go look right now. Good decision by you to get the right tools for the job before proceeding. :thumbsup:

 

[Darknight]

IIRC the flange bolts are 12 point, I could be wrong and it's too cold for me to go look right now. Good decision by you to get the right tools for the job before proceeding. :thumbsup:

Yeah they are 12 point bolts, I really just need a 12mm socket that goes straight to 1/2 inch so I can use my breaker bar. Because if I use a 3/8 adaptor its too long.

Do they make 12mm socket that do that? Or what should I get to make this work easily?

Will messed up U-joints cause you to dyno lower?

 

[Fade 2 Black]

You'll most likely have to use a 3/8" socket. You can look for a 1/2" drive 12mm but you shouldn't need it, if 3/8 won't break it loose then something is wrong. Get Craftsmen or equal quality tools so if you break them you can exchange them for new ones. :thumbsup:

 

[Darknight]

You'll most likely have to use a 3/8" socket. You can look for a 1/2" drive 12mm but you shouldn't need it, if 3/8 won't break it loose then something is wrong. Get Craftsmen or equal quality tools so if you break them you can exchange them for new ones. :thumbsup:

Its not that the 3/8 socket wont loosen the bolt, its that no ratchets will fit because it hits the drive shaft and wont fit on the bolt. Any ideas?

 

[Fade 2 Black]

Socket with a universal (or a swivel socket) and an extension. A qaulity set of combination wrenches would work as would a gear wrench.

 

[Darknight]

Socket with a universal (or a swivel socket) and an extension. A qaulity set of combination wrenches would work as would a gear wrench.

Yeah, I totally forgot about swivel sockets. I just bought a 7mm and 8mm swivel socket for the plugs and supercharger. I'm just worried that the swivel 12mm will break when I put enough force on it. May just try to get a better wrench not sure.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[Fade 2 Black]

:beer: Good luck!

 

[lightninmike]

I would and have used a 3/8's drive 12mm 12point. To do this tho you have to be square on the bolt. By that i mean not haveing the flange of the driveshaft in the way, you will notice that the socket fits better in one position than the other. Oh yeah get a deep socket not a shallow one or the top of the ratchet will hit the driveshaft and you will not be flush on the nut and may strip the head.
That makes sense to me but if it doesnt to you you can pm me and i will try to clear it up:-D

 

[Darknight]

Put the rear on jackstands. Make a mark on the pinion flange to index the drive shaft, remove the 4 bolts for the driveshaft and pull it out of the transmission so you can inspect it. You may also want to chock the front tires for safety's sake. Take pics if you can so we can see what it looks like.

Okay, I finally got around to getting the right tools to get those 4 bolts off and I removed the driveshaft. I'm not sure of exactly what you wanted me to take a picture of put here are some that I took:

http://www.gcsrts.com/srts-admin/pictures/Driveshaftclose1.jpg
http://www.gcsrts.com/srts-admin/pictures/Driveshaftclose2.jpg
http://www.gcsrts.com/srts-admin/pictures/Driveshaftclose3.jpg
http://www.gcsrts.com/srts-admin/pictures/Driveshaftclose4.jpg
http://www.gcsrts.com/srts-admin/pictures/Driveshaftclose5.jpg
http://www.gcsrts.com/srts-admin/pictures/Driveshaftclose6.jpg
http://www.gcsrts.com/srts-admin/pictures/Driveshaftclose7.jpg
http://www.gcsrts.com/srts-admin/pictures/Driveshaftclose8.jpg
http://www.gcsrts.com/srts-admin/pictures/Driveshaftclose9.jpg
http://www.gcsrts.com/srts-admin/pictures/Driveshaftclose10.jpg


Do I need to pull out the U-joints? If so what is the easieast way to remove the C-clips holding them in, and then how do I remove the joint from there?

Thanks everyone

 

[Fade 2 Black]

I can't see the pics really well right now (tunneled in from work) move each set of U-joints around and see if you can hear/feel any noise or slop in them that would indicate a problem. If not then they're most likely fine. You can get the clips out with pliers but the caps will most likely need to be pressed out. Also turn the pinion flange on the rear end and see what you hear if anything.

 

[lightninmike]

Also if you can put the driveshaft back into the tranny and not onto the rearend. Turn it by hand and see if it makes any noise (tranny in N ofcourse)
Also like Bob said check the rear end by turning the pinion flange by hand to see if thats making noise either.
If your going to be changing out the u-joints take it to a driveshaft shop they can do it faster and balance it all at once and it really isnt that expensive

 

[Darknight]

I can't see the pics really well right now (tunneled in from work) move each set of U-joints around and see if you can hear/feel any noise or slop in them that would indicate a problem. If not then they're most likely fine. You can get the clips out with pliers but the caps will most likely need to be pressed out. Also turn the pinion flange on the rear end and see what you hear if anything.

Okay I moved around each set of U-joints for a while and never really got any noise at all or felt anything other than it being smooth...So I guess those are probably not the problem. As for the rear end, If I spin the pinion with the parking brake on I get a little slack each way then it stops with a metal thud (each way). With the parking break off if I spin the pinion or just the tires I get a very slight metal on metal "scraping" you might call it that almost sounds like the brakes touching the rotor or possibly just the inside of the rear end moving. I can't really tell which one. Either way the tires are still quite easy to move so i would think that it is normal.

Also with the driveshaft off I don't hear the same squealing noise that I heard with it on if that makes a difference. Is it possible that I just need to grease something where the driveshaft enters the transmission or something else I should do there?