Transmission

[Paddy]

I've completed my CJ3A, and everything seems to work like a charm.  I sent the transmission and transfer case out to be re-built by a transmission shop, but I seem to have a problem.  It shifts fine however, when it's in 2 wheel drive and I either glide in gear or let off the gas in gear there is a loud sound that is not quite a grinding sound, but it does not sound "right."  This does not occur when I'm in 4 wheel drive. During the rebuild I installed an overdrive kit from Herm The Overdrive guy, and it works fine.  At least thus far (200 miles).  The only thing I can think of is that when they rebuilt the transmission they did not replace the main shaft.  Any ideas on how I can troubleshoot this issue, or any suggestions on who I could take it to south of Denver, CO?  Thanks.

[garage gnome]

Try taking the rear drive shaft out and drive it around with the front axle. I think it is something in the rear axle or a bad u joint. If you still get the noise, then it is something else.

[RedWilly]

I had a similar issue accompanied by a continuous leak. Check this for explanation.   http://www.cj3apage.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1367627098

[1955CJ-5]

You might also just rest your hand on each of the shift levers while it's making the noise..you might be able to "feel" if the vibration is coming more from the transmission or from the transfer case.

Do you have lockout hubs?

Also make sure the yoke's are aligned on the drive shafts. If they are not aligned it can cause a low rumbling sort of vibration..Probably not the source in this case but you never know...

[Paddy]

I don't have lock out hubs, there is no vibration that accompanies the sound, there are no leeks or puddles.  Just a rumbling noise when I glide in gear.  I think it's the intermediate shaft, and that the shop that I took it to didn't replace it when they rebuilt the transmission.  And replacement looks like a real bi_ _ _ once the tub is back on and I got to tell you I don't plan on taking the tub back off!!

[Carls_jeep]

If that sound is like a whine when you let off the throttle in first, second and third then it is just worn gears rubbing against each other. That is nothing to worry about and the only way to stop it is to replace all the gears in the transmission. It's not worth the effort or cost.

[Bruce_W]

  I was thinking T/case intermediate shaft too, but it could be a number of things inside the t/case. I wouldn't think that anything in the transmission case would care whether the transfer case was in two-wheel-drive or four. But then, never say never.....   
   South of Denver? I'm North of Denver.   BW

[Paddy]

Thanks.  And BTW it makes the noise when I'm in overdrive as well.  So you  know anyone in the greater Denver area that you'd trust to look at it?  I don't feel qualified to tear into the transmission.   When I rebuilt my 3A I did everything except the engine, transmission and transfer case.  Go figure.  I guess I can't complain because if I did rebuild engine etc.  the whole project would still be in a million pieces.  At least it's together, now I'd like to solve this problem that I thought I was going to avoid by having a "professional"  address the transmission and transfer case!  Let me know if you have a recommendation for someone in the Denver area.

[Carls_jeep]

Paddy, you need someone to drive it who is familiar with the sounds of a CJ3A Jeep before you let anyone tear into it. You don't list where you live and until you do that no one is going to respond to help you because they don't know if you live by them or not.

I am a quadranoid but I have my location listed. Now if I am four times a paranoid then the average person should have no problem listing where they live. OH, I am also an extreme skeptic so list where you live so someone can help you.

[Paddy]

Sorry live in Castle Rock Colorado, just moved from Cin., OH.  Thought I mentioned that above.  Cheers.

[Carls_jeep]

Ahh, Castle Rock, just below Denver. Now your in Jeep trail country. I'm in SE Utah now driving the trails. Well, back to the problem. I don't think it will hurt anything to run it as is until you have time or money to fix it. I'll check the manuals and post tomorrow.

[athawk11]

Paddy,
I'm in Arvada.  I can't swear that I would know the sounds you are hearing are okay or not, but I'm willing to listen.  I'm not in Castle Rock very often, but I might be able to head that way at some point.  I work in Denver. My job has me around the metro area occasionally.

Tim

[Bruce_W]

   I mentioned above that I'm north of Denver. Actually, I'm NE of Greeley, or east of Fort Collins, whichever way you want to look at it.
  Although the T-90 & D18 are fairly new ground to me, I have a lot of experience with transmissions used in the past by GM, Ford, and Chrysler, and some in the transfer cases as well. I'd be glad to take a "listen" at it sometime and give you my opinion, and I'm equipped to work on it too, if you were to wish me to. My work takes me to points south of Denver occasionally, but it's a summer business, and is slowing severely now. It might be a good excuse for a road trip, though.    BW

[Paddy]

Thanks for the offers above.  It's a real puzzle.  I was under it this morning and all looks fine.  I took the suggestion to feel all of the shifters while driving then compare while gliding; when it's making "the noise."  The shifters all felt the same, gliding, driving etc.  No change whatsoever to the feel.  The only thing I noticed when I was under it this morning was the grease spray from the rear u-joint just before the propeller shaft connects to the rear differential.  I'm wondering if that may suggest a bad u-joint and that perhaps that's the cause of the noise.  Any thoughts on that?  Thanks.

[Bob W]

It is normal for grease to fly off of U-joints for a while after they have been greased.

Were the rear U-joints in phase?