I have a 2003 ranger 3.0L 5spd Auto trans Locking 4:10 rearend

The problem: Under acceleration, i hear a clicking noise coming from the rear trans area or futher back, it sounds like a spun bearing, buts it makes the noise 5 times per wheel rotation, so it has to be after the gear reduction of the trans and so forth. When it started it sounded like the seal was rubbing on the trans and i thought no big deal, well it got worse to the point of now it sounds like a bearing. I have lifted the truck on a rack and spun the tires and it wont recreate the noise. recently it only makes the noise between 15mph and up but when it started it was constant at any speed. I am a mechanic and this still has me stumped, niether myself nor any mechanic i have spoken to has heard of this problem and even iatn has been a bust, so i decieded to post here and let you guys have a shot at it before i have to pay the dealer to overhaul the whole drivetrain looking for it (we all know they will).

oh yeah no vibration.

 

ok so i have narrowed the search it is for sure coming from the rear of the transmission, i know there is a bushing there behind the seal, so now my question is a bit different. Has anyone ever came across this problem and if so what were the symptoms of failure. so now i am stuck between replacing the bushing and seal or sending the truck to the trans shop, as we do not rebuild transmissions here we outsource em.

 

Start with replacing the driveshaft u-joints. What us describes is one of the text book signs of wasted u-joints. You probably won't recreate it on a rack, there is no load to be moved with the tires off the ground. I'm placing my bet on those.

Matt

 

Well lets see, the noise occurs 5 times per wheel rotation, but doesn't make the noise when the wheels are rotated, with the vehicle on a lift, such that the vehicles weight is off the wheels & there is no thrust or torque on the drive train, all good clues seems to me.

So what were you doing when you arrived at the noise occuring 5 times per wheel rotation?????

Seems to me if you could repeat that test senario, so it's noisy, you could at least narrow the problem down to a smaller area.

Kinda sounds like a thrust washer or driveline bearing.

If you can't dupicate the 5 times per wheel rotation scenario, maybe the following test sequences would help narrow down the troubleshoot.

Will it make the noise with the vehicle on a lift, engine running, in gear & the wheels spinning above 15 mph????
Will it make the noise if you accelerate & decelerate the driveline above 15 mph, with it on the lift????

If it isn't noisy on the lift with the vehicles weght off the wheels, maybe try the following.

Will it sound off, if your on the highway, just rolling along, maintaining speed on a level road, not on or off the gas, you know in gear, but the drive line not loaded or unloaded?????

Or does it only occur with the drive line in gear & under acceleration torque, above 15 mph????

Will it still make the noise when you let off the gas & are deceleating the diveline, at speeds above 15 mph?????

Will it make the noise above 15 mph if you shift the tranny to "N", (out of gear) & just drifting along?????

When you narrow the noise down to a particular area, maybe try & rig a stethoscope to listen more closely.

Let us know what you find.

 

I do agree with the ujoints but i have no evidence to back it up, there is no play whatsoever and ive have the shaft on the bench and the everything about the ujoints seems to be perfect.

As for the questions, no it wont recreate itself on the lift, the 5:1 rotation was observed from hanging off the side of the truck while driving it. (i know stupid)

it used to make the noise all the time at any speed anytime and appeared as a rub noise now its grown into a clicking whirring loud as can be metallic noise that only appears over 20 mph on or off the gas, making it harder to find, by riding in the bed of the truck during drive test i have determined it is coming from the rear of the trans area. and it will continue with the truck in neutral

 

Ok it won't do it on a lift with all the weight off the wheels, but will do it in "N", rolling, which imo takes out thrust washers & drive line bearings) but with all four wheels on the ground (weight on the wheels) & rolling in "N", it's noisy. Kinda sounds like a wheel bearing problem maybe.

Is it more noisy on one side than the other????

 

Put it on the lift and power brake it.....apply the brakes just enough to load the drivetrain but not enough to fully stop the wheels. Try it on a drive on lift also, if the suspension drops to much on a regular lift.

 

ok after another 2 hours of diagnosis time, the noise is 100% for sure coming from the transmission, i do not wish to share the diagnosis methods on this board for they are very stupid and unsafe. Also with this i am able to describe the noise better, it sounds like a extremely loud ticking noise only while accelerating. one guess that has been passed along to me is the torque converter. If anyone has experienced this please feel free to post any ideas and or suggestions as i am just as lost as you. Oh yeah the noise no longer happens in neutral it did before it wont now, you must be accelerating.

 

Well sounds like it may be time to drop the tranny pan & see what surprises it offers up!!!!

 

I will prolly drop the pan monday or tuesday. Ill keep ya updated and thanks for the input.