Drive shaft noise

Stephen Newell · May 29, 2017

I have a 1993 G20 Chevrolet van which has about 220,000 miles on it. Recently when going from park to drive there has been a loud clank coming from the drive shaft. OK I thought U-joints so I got under it and pushed and pulled on the drive shaft at the joints and only felt the slightest play and no noise. After a couple more weeks still making the noise I decided to replace the U-joints anyway and when I got under there and started loosening the bolts the drive shaft rotated about 1/4" and made the clank. Now I'm thinking it's excessive wear in the ring and pinion gear. Any thoughts? There is no whining or any other noise coming from the differential.

Dick2 · May 29, 2017

I had an IH pickup making a noise once. Had the shop check the driveline, then the rear wheel bearings- couldn't find anything that made the noise. The boss traded it off for a new car. Dealer sold the IH "As Is". A couple days later the buyer was driving down the street and the AT exploded, broke the case and all.

Stephen Newell · May 29, 2017

It wasn't the transmission in my case. I've had the transmission rebuilt recently and the noise continues.

Steve@Advance · May 29, 2017

I don't think it will be excess clearance on the ring and pinion. If there were that much slack, it would be howling.

Any up and down play on the pinion yoke? If there is, the seal will probably be leaking. If you replace the seal, be careful not to over tighten the yoke nut. There is a crush sleeve between the bearings that sets the preload.

Might pull the cover, look at the spider gears and shaft, could be the bolt is sheared, some slack there.

I'm not much on automatic transmissions, someone will probably offer some specifics, but seems there is some kind of accumulator that is supposed to dampen the initial clutch engagement???

Even though it was recently rebuilt, anything is possible. Do you know what transmission it has?

Hobo,NC · May 29, 2017

More than likely the differential carrier is worn out were the Cross Shaft ( A hardened pin that transfers a load from the carrier to the spider gear assembly). If you can live with it drive on if not you will need a carrier.. That means a complete rebuild of the differential with a New Carrier assy... Guess $1500 for a shop to rebuild it are get a used one and inspect it good... If its a open unit I normally get a locker to replace it...

Example

https://www.allstategear.com/GM-8-6...urce=googlebase&utm_medium=shoppingengine

Stephen Newell · May 29, 2017

There is no up and down movement anywhere on any of it. It just makes the noise when you rotate the drive shaft. I had the cover off the differential three or four months ago when I changed the oil in it. At that time I didn't see anything unusual.

The transmission is a 4L60E. Like I said the van was making the noise before and after the transmission overhaul so I don't think it's the problem.

David G · May 29, 2017

I would be the carrier is worn out.

John B. · May 29, 2017

You can't always check u-joint wear while the drive shaft is in place. You'll never be able to apply the force with your hands that the engine can apply when it makes the noise you're speaking of. I would take the driveshaft out and disassemble the u-joints. Then replace them while you have it out.

Hobo,NC · May 29, 2017

Take the cover off again and LOOK for moment of the cross pin in relationship to the carrier... The spiders could also be worn out... If fot nuttin else you can eliminat the diff as a suspect :idea: How hard is dat to do...

David G · May 29, 2017

I would bet the holes are oval shaped.

Stephen Newell · May 29, 2017

While it wouldn't be difficult to remove the cover off the differential, I don't know if I could recognize a defect or problem in it. I do think if I don't wait too long and let something get really worn out I could probably rebuild the differential.

Stephen Newell · May 29, 2017

I already have the new U-joints. Perhaps I should go ahead and replace them. It's just when the noise came from rotating the drive shaft it felt as though the problem was something else and I stopped.

Hobo,NC · May 29, 2017

Good luck...

ss55 · May 30, 2017

My '94 Chevy pickup uses a telescoping drive shaft to the rear axle. The drive shaft in your van may be the same design. There is a recessed grease point on the axle (it's not a protruding grease zerk). Whenever I shift between forward and reverse the play in telescoping joint and play in the gear train changes direction and clanks. The thin wall tube of the drive shaft seems to amplify the noise. You could rotating the two ends of your drive shaft opposite each other to check if the telescoping coupling is what's making your noise.

Stephen Newell · May 30, 2017

The drive shaft on my van is solid, it doesn't telescope. I think the drive shaft amplifies the sound but it's either coming from the U-Joints or the differential. Right now I'm leaning toward replacing the U-Joints anyway to rule them out before attempting to overhaul the differential.

Hobo,NC · May 30, 2017

At 2:30 he explains the parts at 3:40 he rotates the carrier and shows the end of the cross pin. Look at it from both ends while working the carrier back and fourth. If the carrier is worn out the pin will rock in the hole.

Also look for ware at the spider gears... Now how hard is daT.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zwYojw6cuU

gab · May 30, 2017

I've seen the carrier and pin bad but Gm had a service bulletin years a go for a drive line clunk that was the front drive shaft yoke sticking to the out put shaft of the trans. The cure was some king of special grease that you smeared inside of the yoke and it worked.

Hobo,NC · May 30, 2017

(quoted from post at 04:39:49 05/31/17) I've seen the carrier and pin bad but Gm had a service bulletin years a go for a drive line clunk that was the front drive shaft yoke sticking to the out put shaft of the trans. The cure was some king of special grease that you smeared inside of the yoke and it worked.

GM #12345879 for a sticking yoke not a drive-line with excessive play. It was always a temporary patch for me and not a permanent repair. ...

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/nal-12345879

Stephen Newell · May 30, 2017

Thanks for the information and video. I saved the link to watch later. My computer doesn't have sound so I will have to find the means of hearing it.

Hobo,NC · May 30, 2017

I am not betting its not the u-joints but with that much play Shirley you would see it in a bad joint... Joints that are bound up tight are the hard ones to find normally you will see rusty dust around the seal. Take the shaft out its a no brainier :shock: you can tell if the joint works free are has a tight place in it...

Worn carriers are not unusual... Chebby trucks are the worst of the bunch with Ford a distant second... I don't know why but Fords with a V6 give more differential trouble those with a V8 I rarely see a differential issue in Fords with a V8... Maybe they use a GM carrier in the V6 trucks :idea:

Stephen Newell · May 31, 2017

I think what is killing me is the recent increase in traffic in the Dallas area. I'm in stop and go traffic daily. First the brakes went south, then the transmission and now probably the differential.

Drive shaft noise

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