Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Found my trouble Need Advice

[DFerverda]

Hi guys.

Last week i started a thread got a growl when i turn on start. My turck is a 98. 5 CTD 4x4 Auto.

After the truck is warm when i turn right or left it growls/binds than quits doin it when i straighten the wheels up.

I replaced both front u joints and both bearing hubs, still does it. This morning i adjusted the bands on the transmission,still does it. Tonite i jacked her up and took off the wheels and started her up. No growl, turned the wheels no problem Than i threw her in 4x4 did ok ,turned the wheels and MAN i thought she was commin off the stands it bucked and growled and binded up . I straightened up the wheels and all was well. It doesnt matter if turn right or left ,still does it . I looked at the shafts/joints they look good no movement.

What is goin on ?? What can i check next? When i am driving the truck in 2 wheel the front shafts dont turn? why is it doin it in 2wheel? Is the trouble in the transfer case or the axle and how can i tell??? I put the truck back in 2wheel and turn no trouble. HELP Any body got any ideas??? thanks

Dirk

 

[AKAMAC]

Have you inspected the front differential? See if it does it with the front driveshaft out.

 

[DFerverda]

Hi mike

if i pull the front ds will i have to put the truck in 4x4 to drive?

I had the front diff apart last week and cleaned it out and replaced the gearlube w/ synthetic. all was well inside. Nothing in the bottom of diff it was clean as a pin. I will pull the front ds and go for a ride. I have the truck on stands now and it would do no good to pull it and try it on stands, When i have the truck in 2wheel high does the transfer come into play at all?

Dirk

 

[csutton7]

steering box--check your fluid level--top it off if necessary--have someone turn the wheels after you top it off --it may foam up a little due to the low fluid---if foaming doesn't go away then your power steering pump may be toast---or maybe your steering box is going--report back after you do this---chris

 

[DFerverda]

hi chris

the ps level is right on the mark. while i had the truck up on jacks and in 2wheel drive it worked properly, it was only when i put it in 4 wheel drive that it did it while it was up . the problem is it is doing it in 2wheel drive when i am driving. I will keep the ps thing in mind. I will pull the front drive shaft off in the morning and see how it acts and post it . thanks for your help dirk

 

[csutton7]

no you won't have to put the t-case in 4x to drive if you remove the front shaft--just pull the front driveshaft off and see what happens-with shaft removed put truck into 4lo and 4hi and see what happens-since i didn't see your other thread fill me in some--



this happens in 2 whl drive and 4x--is it more pronounced in 4x--



have you done any mods lately--lift kits, steering changes, etc..... --



do the brakes work ok when steering



growl--can come from steering pump or can be gears binding---elaborate on growl and what you mean by binding up



check your vacuum lines to the t-case and front CAD(I'm thinking front CAD prob, but I'm not sure)



does t-case shift ok into and out of 4lo and 4hi--



I'm not ruling out a bad steering pump here(just because your fluid is topped off the pump may not be working)--or maybe vacuum pump--or CAD



is the steering hard or normal



how far do you have to turn the steering wheel before the prob starts... chris

 

[DFerverda]

hi chris

I pulled the front driveshaft and took her for a ride about 30 miles to get everything hot . The growl/vibration/bind feeling only happens when driving in 2wheel high ,and only when i am turning the truck. When i straighten out the wheels it quits and all is fine. It seems to do the same in 4xhigh when the roads are slush but i figured it would bind some in 4x4 like my old chevy 4x4 . After she got hot thismorning it is still binding and feels like it did but not quite as bad but is still doing it with ds out.

I put her back in the air and pulled the wheels and backed off the brakes, they are a little tight but can spin the wheels but they dont freewheel.

Cranked up the air on the compressor and put my mac impact on the nut on the dana and let her rip. the front end seems ok i turned the wheels (locked in 4wheel dr) and felt no binding or noise w/the ds out. this wont spin the front end as fast as the ds but it did allright.

No changes or mods I have a new set of bosio injectors ready to go in and a caTcher but wanted to get this problem out of the way before changing any thing else.

The brakes are new and different calipers on the front. The 4x4 engages great no tble in and out of 4hi or low. I changed the ps fluid over to synthetic this winter when it was 0 out to get rid of the noise on cold mornings and it worked great ,put in vavoline syn. I have no surging or dead spots and no play in the steering and can turn full r and l with my finger sitting still with no growl or binding it turns real easy, it only binds and growls when i am moving and only when i turn.

Does the transfer case come into play when the truck is in 2 wheel drive ?? While i had it on stands with the front ds on and the wheels turned it was a noisy mess. stuff was all running straight ie drive shafts front and rear and carrier bering. was afraid to let it go too long like that and had backed the wheels off to where it was not doing it to bad but i thought something was goin to go bang when i had the wheels turned almost all the way right or left.

If i am driving down the road and come to a curve i dont feel much but if i come to an intersection and make a sharp turn 3/4 steering wheel it does it. Thanks Dirk

 

[csutton7]

when in Park and the truck up in the air what happens when you turn the steering wheel--no sound and no problems??? I'm guessing this is correct--but let me know--



let's say the above has no issues--



with truck in air--in 2 whl drive--turn the truck on and turn the wheels--put truck in neutral--rear wheels may spin, but that's ok--now jump out of the truck and turn the front wheels by hand and see if you can hear where the sound is coming from--you can try and turn the truck off also, but leave it in Neutral and try it again to make sure you can hear what's happening--I'm thinkin it may be the CAD system since you've checked the pumpkin already, but it's hard to say when I'm here and you are there--so it's trial and error---chris

 

[AKAMAC]

The reason I asked about the diff was that when turning there are longitudinal forces on carrier. I haven't worked on the D60 FE but I believe there is a bearing before the CAD, this might be the culprit. Mike

 

[GIT-R-DONE]

To me it kinda sounds like you got some air in the Power Steering line. I had something like this happen on my first genner, had to replace the hose and all was well. Just my . 02

 

[DFerverda]

Hi guys Yes with the truck in the air in park i can spin the steering wheel both ways, all the way with no problem no noise

the same when it is on the ground and running in park or drive turns w/no noise or problem untill i push the go pedel and am turning. Have not checked what happens with truck in the air in N yet ,still got the front ds out . I think i will replace the u joints at this time. Spent most of the day yesterday working on it got mad and started tearing the front end down again to look at the new joints on the axle's and while its down going to put on new rotors and calipers. The calipers i just put on last week were used and the one on the pass side is not releasing all the way . I will finish up with that stuff tonite and than can start looking for the other tble thanks dirk

 

[BennyHL]

Don't rule out the power steering box. It seems to not like a load. It's possible for it to feel fine and smooth with little load but bind up when load increases.



Now the bind you feel. Is it in the steering while like the steering wheel gets hard to turn or is it scrubbing of the front tires?



Also, do you have anything in that front axle other than an open differential? Have you looked at the axle disconnect and confirmed it is working properly? I am out of the loop as to how the disconnect is setup on these dodges but if it's not working and you have something than an open diff you will get binding when turning.

 

[BennyHL]

I read this again and realized you hadn't yet replaced the front ujoints. Do that! Whenever you turn with the ujoints spinning it's making your noise. Moving on the road, 4wd while in the air, etc. When you turn without the front ujoints spinning you don't get the nosie. Truck in the air in 2wd and turning while sitting still. This might not be it and I don't know how it would cause a good bind at the steering wheel in 2wd but it could cause the noise.

 

[DFerverda]

Hey guys , The bind could be described as a large scrubbing of the tires i guess. I have replaced the u joints in the front. I tore the front end down last night to replace the rotors an calipers, they were not releasing as i like and making some heat. I checked the u joints on the axle. I had one on the pass side that was a little snug on the axel ears, I gave it a tapp with a 2 lb brass dead blow, It is good now ,these are 6 month old spicer joints w/zerks. I decided to start over at the front and go through EVERYTHING even all that i have already replaced just to be sure. Once i get the front ds on i will drive it out and get her hot and see if all is the same or not, than i will jack her up and see how it does in 2 wheel and than shift to 4wd and turn the wheels and see what happens. Chris had a few suggestions and i will try them too and just try to get a handle on where the noise is comming from. I think the dana 60 front is an open diff and the rear 60 is lsd, but i am not sure. I will work on the truck tomorow night and should have it together wed if all goes well and my work leaves me go home without too much ot. I called Fortwayne clutch today to get new joints for the front ds. 6 months ago i bought them for 20 bucks apiece now they tell me they are 56 bucks ea.

HECK i didnt know they were made out of oil, diesel fuel here is still at 2. 28 and gas is 1. 87 go figure... . thanks Dirk

 

[csutton7]

you have a dana 70 in the rear--just so you know--chris

 

[DFerverda]

chris. the guys at napa told me it was a dana 60 I didnt know. Does the 60 and 70 use the same cover gasket? Cause it fit. Found part of my trouble last night. The drivers wheel hub i put on 5 months ago was bad. It didnt grind or make noise but when i pulled it to check the u joint , it had a slight wobble and a little slop in and out. I took it back and they gave me a new one. I just finished up a little while ago, took it for a ride and still have some growl. I will put her back in the air and and fire it up and do as you suggested. Dirk

 

[csutton7]

yes they can use the same gasket and same cover in most cases---chris

 

[BennyHL]

Anything new with the problem?

 

[DFerverda]

Nope, havent had a good chance to get it in the barn to go over it yet,did my 12 hrs again today, got off work and worked on the garden tiller . Think i will pull the rear ds this weekend and go over the u joints and carrier, still got the growl when hot. Will try what chris suggested before i pull the shafts, just not enough time.

 

[csutton7]

DFerverda--on the cover issue you asked above--I said most covers will work on the front that will fit the rear and most will--but you have to be careful on some of the aftermarket ones--to be sure that a different cover will fit you should take some measurements from the surface where the cover bolts on to the back of the tie rod when the wheels are turned hard right or left to see what clearance you have---chris