Tranny Help Needed

[Daniel & Kathy Gibson]

Ok Gang, here goes...

My Amphi has always seemed noisy in the tranny. Mainly it appeared to be
a growly differential. However, recently it has taken to a weird
"chirping" noise. It has been getting worse and worse, until recently
when I was driving it the chirping sound sped up until it blended into a
hum. About that time the car started to vibrate. Throwing the clutch in
stopped the chirping sound and the hum.

I figured it probably is the tranny, but to make sure, I pulled the hub
and bearing assembly apart on the passenger side axle (seems like that
was where the sound was coming from). What a nightmare job. Bent one
puller, and bent up three of the wheel studs with the second puller. Not
to mention mushrooming the end of the axle (even with the nut on!).
Fortunately I was able to clean up the axle threads, and replace the
lugs. Anyway, the bearings are fine. Plenty of grease, and they are
smooth as can be. Guess I will put on new ones, just to be on the safe
side. Based on this side, I think the other is fine. No bearing sounds
coming from there.

So, on to the u-joints. The inner passenger side one is nice and floppy,
with no play that I could discern. The outer one is floppy on one set of
bearings but has a slight binding on the other one. Enough so that it
does not freely fall it lifted up.

I pulled the passenger side axle assembly tonight to check its u-joints.
Maybe just a small amount of play on the outer u-joint, but just teeny
tiny. No signs of binding on either on.

With the axles out, I hopped into the car and started it up. Ran it long
enough for the engine and tranny to warm up, and put it through the
gears and revs. No sound at all. I took it up to 70 mph in 4th gear in
the driveway, and it was quiet. It has always shifted well, and the
noise it makes it no limited to one gear only.

So, here we are. Are the u-joints bad enough to make this happen, and
when I throw the clutch in, the load is taken off? Is my tranny quiet
because it does not have a load on it? I double checked my axle shafts
alignments, and they are as close as I can get. I think they are
aligned.

Any ideas?

Thanks!
Dan

 

[Scott]

Dan,

I'd have to say that you have a bad wheel bearing. Buy new bearings and seals at
your local bearing shop and replace both sides. You've done the hard part
pulling the axle. Be sure to put the grease/water seals in so that the seal on
the break side is facing towrds the engine (inside the hub), and the seal on the
engine side faces the engine. That way, when you over grease, the excess comes
out by the u-joint and flings out on the car instead of all over the inside of
your break drums.

As for the u-joints. Base on the tilt of the engine and such, both of the joints
don't get the full range of travel or the same travel angles. I have a prop
shaft that's the same way. In the car its smooth as silk but when removed, it
sticks at one side of the extreme travel. Grease the crap out of them and rotate
them all the way around to the stops.

Scott Moses..

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