Noise/vibration in 5th only while accelerating
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Noise/vibration in 5th only while accelerating
My 88 Ranger (4x4 supercab 2.9 5 speed FM146) has a fairly loud noise and vibration that only happens when I am accelerating in 5th. I replaced the ujoints even though there wasn't much freeplay. I tried it in 5th at lower than normal speeds and it still was bad. What could be wrong? Does it mean 5th gear is on its way out? If I don't use 5th, will it be ok to drive?
Dean
88 Ranger
87 Bronco II
67 Ranchero
and some others that aren't Fords.
Dean
88 Ranger
87 Bronco II
67 Ranchero
and some others that aren't Fords.
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I had this happen in my mustang. A new driveshaft fixed it. I replaced the U-joints like you did and it didn't help...the new aluminum drive shaft did. Only in 5th in the mustang...5th gear is when the output shaft/driveshaft will be spinning the fastest in relation to engine speed...consequently it's when an out of balance driveshaft will make noise. Just curious, did you change your rear end gears recently?
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It is a 2 piece driveshaft and besides ujoints replaced, I had the shorter end of the long driveshaft replaced because it had just a tiny bit of freeplay. It was also balanced.
Is it possible that a shift lever or fork is loose and vibrating? I don't know much about transmissions but I don't think I am able to inspect them without removing the transmission??
Is it possible that a shift lever or fork is loose and vibrating? I don't know much about transmissions but I don't think I am able to inspect them without removing the transmission??
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I don't think a shift lever or fork could cause a viabration, and if they did, I would think it'd be in all gears. I only have experience with the ford T-5 manual transmission though. My thoughts would be that you're long section of the shaft may need to be replaced and possibly that a shop may need to balance the two sections together?? To me it would seem that it wouldn't matter if one half was balanced if it weren't balanced with the other half. When I had my driveshaft balance problem I felt it in fifth gear, in the shifter ****, with the clutch pedal in or out. I don't know if any of this helps. I have no 4x4 or Ranger experience ...just my 87 mustang.
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From: Friendswood, Texas
Did you replace the carrier bearing on the driveshaft? I'm assuming it has one since you have a 2-piece driveshaft. Also, could be a problem with alignment of the driveshaft on the 2-piece driveshaft. You may need to shim the carrier bearing at the mount to get the angle in line. another possibility, and I would check this first, would be worn motoer mounts, especially the rubeer portion of the tranny mount. Sorry I couldn't provide an exxact solution but hopefully these ideas will stear you to a solution.
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Cargo Master
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From: Friendswood, Texas
Not too much. I can't really quanitfy it. If you can easily move the tranny off of the mount, it's probably bad. If it's badly oil-soaked, I would consider replacing it as well.
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Link to audio clip links of noise
I made two recordings of the noise. The noise gets loud when I am giving it gas in 5th and goes away when I let off. The shifter boot was pulled up so you can hear the noise very well. The motor mounts seems fine. I am not even accelerating much at all and it makes the noise.
click here to listen
http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/danameeks@sbcglobal.net/lst?&.dir=/My+Documents&.src=bc&.view=l
A picture is worth a thousand words but it is hard to take a picture of a sound.
Any ideas about the noise?
click here to listen
http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/danameeks@sbcglobal.net/lst?&.dir=/My+Documents&.src=bc&.view=l
A picture is worth a thousand words but it is hard to take a picture of a sound.
Any ideas about the noise?
Last edited by Dean68; Dec 7, 2005 at 08:15 PM. Reason: smaller font
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From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
Holy crap. That's a lot worse than I thought. Does the stick vibrate bad in sync with the noise?
It almost sounds like it's grinding, as if it didn't engage. But that is nearly impossible.
I'm definetly suggesting tranny shop for that one. It does sound like 5th is going, that's the bad part. No it's not harmful to drive without 5th, actually 4th is great as it's a through and through of the tranny. But it's not efficient and you can't really highway cruise in 4th. Hopefully one of our experts can pinpoint it.
It almost sounds like it's grinding, as if it didn't engage. But that is nearly impossible.
I'm definetly suggesting tranny shop for that one. It does sound like 5th is going, that's the bad part. No it's not harmful to drive without 5th, actually 4th is great as it's a through and through of the tranny. But it's not efficient and you can't really highway cruise in 4th. Hopefully one of our experts can pinpoint it.
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I don't think the shifter vibrates significantly more while it is noisy. Would that make any difference in the diagnosis?
The audio clips are a bit louder than what it seems like while driving but not too much louder.
I hope everyone else can listen to the clips too.
The audio clips are a bit louder than what it seems like while driving but not too much louder.
I hope everyone else can listen to the clips too.
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audio noise clip
Does anyone else think this audio sounds I posted like 5th going out or could it be anything else? Would it be safe to drive if I just don't use 5th?
Audio clip link
Audio clip link
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From: Blytheville, AR
Wow... I know when my truck is cold, if I run it in 5th at low RPMs, my truck shakes and shudders, but I have never experienced anything like that. I would assume that for now, running with no 5th would be fine. There might be some metal chips/shavings floating around in there, so I would get it checked out.
Last edited by Ken00; Dec 10, 2005 at 07:02 PM.
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Eeek that's a worse/different sound than I was imagining. Is there a way you can put the rear axle on jackstands in a parking lot and have a friend run it through the gears while you walk around it and try and pinpoint the source by sound (but not in front of it).