Growl in the drivetrain

Ripsnorter · Post by **Ripsnorter** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 1:34 am

I'm getting my '71 ready for a daily driver. Hoping to have it ready to drive in the next 2 days, so I've been going through the problems I need to fix.

I've got this strange growl coming through the drivetrain. Not sure where its coming from. My first thought was it was low or no oil in either the rear end or tranny, but they're both full at just below the plug.

Any idea where this could be coming from? Any inherent weaknesses in these drivetrains that might cause a growl?

Symptoms are that its especially loud in reverse, but its loud enough that in third gear at a moderate speed the growl is about the same noise level as the exhaust. Its hard to track down where its coming from as sounds travel up and down the driveline so easily.

Any ideas?

Wes · Post by **Wes** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 1:42 am

Check for rusty/stiff u joints, is two piece shaft may be center support bearing. May have to run it on jack stands
and listen with stethoscope.

lightning_msd · Post by **lightning_msd** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 2:41 am

i had a bad growl in my 79 a while back, turned out it was an axle bearing, u joints usually have a knock when there shot, the centre bearing you would feel a bad vibration, so its probably a bearing somewhere in either your axle or your front end

Ripsnorter · Post by **Ripsnorter** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 11:12 am

It doesnt have that trademark "CHUNK" when goosing it that a u-joint always seems to have. Thats what made me disregard the u-joint.

Carrier bearing, (center bearing for the 2 piece driveline) seems tight, no play at all.

Guess I'm going to have to buy a mechanics stethascope and try the jackstand method.

Vinniesempire · Post by **Vinniesempire** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 3:40 pm

Might be worn gears in the tranny.

Post by **FORDification** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 5:51 pm

Ripsnorter wrote:It doesnt have that trademark "CHUNK" when goosing it that a u-joint always seems to have. Thats what made me disregard the u-joint....

The "CHUNK" you're referring to is when the needle bearings are completely gone. However, they could still be still present and just very worn and dry, so there's not enough play to cause the CHUNK sound, but enough to cause the noises you're hearing.

I vote for checking the U-joints. It's been my experience that nine times out of ten it's always the easy things to fix, and the problem is usually whatever it was you chose to disregard during the diagnosis.

Ripsnorter · Post by **Ripsnorter** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 11:41 am

thanks guys, a lot of genuinely helpful advice here.

I live out between chehalis and kelso/longview on I-5 Paul. Probably a bit of a drive for you if you live on the coast. I'm also not sure if I'm going to get to it this weekend. (fingers crossed) I've got this '47 plymouth that I'm coming to loathe that I need to get out the door before I can get anything else done. Would be nice to meet you though.

390Nut · Post by **390Nut** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:35 pm

Actually, I put that there because all of western Washington is a "wet coast"

I'm in Shelton, probably an hour or so away.

lightning_msd · Post by **lightning_msd** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 1:41 am

AHHAAAA!!!! I KNEW IT WAS A WHEEL BEARING (not fordified for nothin ya know

)

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Growl in the drivetrain

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