Getrag Whineing

[JAyers]

When I let of the go pedal and let it coast the transmission whines it almost sounds like it is stuck in 4wd. I've checked fluid level in the transmission and the transfer case. It sounds like a schronizer(not sure how to spell it). What do you all think it is? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[RBergman]

why yes its true dont keep driving it

you can see some lovely pictures of

whats left of my getrag at

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=142433

 

[MMiller]

Does it feel like there is more slack in the drive train, when going from coasting to accelerating. Mine went from whining, to a bad growl when idling in 2nd gear, and lots of slack in the drivetrain. Then it lurched, boomed, and locked up. Fortunaltly mine failed when the truck was still under warranty in 96. The reman has been running fine for about 160,000 miles.



Michael

 

[1stgen4evr]

Getrag

The getrag is begging for mercy.



Stop right now and do the bearings and whatever else is needed.



With all the bad reputation that the getrag has, it is none the less the cheapest and best for the first gens if it is maintained correctly. (It is really hard for me to justify a 3 to 4 thousand $ transmission upgrade on a 3 to 4 thousand dollar truck. ) If you have boosted the HP then you can expect to have premature failure with the getrag, otherwise with what we now know as to lube (overfill) and maintainence (keep the bearings set properly), you can expect the getrag to serve several hundred thousand miles. I ran mine (two wheel drive) to 460k and changed it for a take out that is doing fine. I discovered later that the original could have run longer and it will in a different truck. I have never gotten that length of service from any other brand of transmission.



The fwd does impose a greater load than the two wheel setup, but with proper attention, the getrag will do fine. I know that there are owners who will argue with that but I am not criticizing anyone as to earlier methods of upkeep. Even Dodge didn't seem to know what to do at first. And to my knowledge, didn't advise anyone. It is only with the TDR that the general public was made aware of the means to keep the getrag working well.



Which brings me to another subject that I have hit on a few times. Let fellow owners know about the TDR forum. I travel quite a lot and still find owners that never heard of TDR. You will probably get a negative response till the person you are telling about the TDR realizes that you are not selling anything or trying to hit them up for something.



James

 

[JAyers]

I put a quart of lucas in through the shifter top and its not making any more noise. The drive train doesnt have any slack but now I noticed another noise when I let it eat in 3rd-5th it makes an a really loud rattle. My truck is not stock but only has 139,000 miles on it so I thought the Getrag would be ok. If it does puke out on me then ive got a old wrecked 94 seting in the shop.

 

[1stgen4evr]

"If it does puke out on me ---"



Get ready, it will. Heck of a shame to. Probably wouldn't be all that expensive to fix right now. If you are really lucky, the countershaft will drop away from the input shaft and you will only have direct (fourth). As mentioned, it can destroy the transmission if you force it to take you home when that happens. On the other hand, you may already be running with a disentegrating pocket bearings. If so, you will need the 94.



Best of luck.



James

 

[MMiller]

Just yank it out and send it to me. I'll make sure it has a good home, with lots of oil changes, fresh bearings, and nice smooth tire chirping shifts!!



Michael

 

[Smokey 01]

In my Getrag the countershaft was still tight but the mainshaft had an eighth inch of play up and down. It was still fairly quiet but it wasn't staying in 5th and 2nd anymore. Mine only needed the pocket bearing. All other bearings, races, synchros ect. were in good shape.

 

[JAyers]

How expensive is it to put new bearings in it, I havent really looked into it. You all have me scared now. Im trying to fix the 94 now so id like to keep the getrag around. Does bearing replacement require lots of know how? Im proably going to tear into it eventually, who knows what else im going to get into while im in there. Does anyone know of a good transmision repair shop near Maysville Ky?

Thanks for your time

 

[Smokey 01]

I spent a little over $300 for a complete bearings and sychro rebuild kit. It is fairly easy to do if you have access to a press and JLEONARD will send you a copy of the Getrag rebuild manual if you email him. It would be worth it to do it now rather than wait until she goes :{ .

 

[1stgen4evr]

"It would be worth it to do it now rather than wait until she goes. "



I second that for sure. To anyone who wonders about noise in the getrag, when they are right they don't make noise. It is begging, pleading and whining for help. AT THE VERY LEAST, PULL A SIDE COVER AND SEE IF THERE ARE ANY FRAGMENTS OR METALIC SLUDGE ON THE MAGNET. With a light and mirror, you can really tell quite a lot from this inspection.



The main shaft on the fwd is supported by the transfer case so that the pocket bearing (and everything around it) can be much worse than on the twd before the transmission just gives up. If you run it to failure, it won't likely be worth repairing.



If you are any sort of mechanic (would that be a redundant statement seeing as you have a first gen) you can do the job. The stuff is heavy and it is best to have a jack. Several owners have cut the floor out of their truck and that makes the job MUCH handier. There are write up on that as well. If you have some husky friends, you can do the job without anything but hand tools. One tool you will require is a really good snap ring plier set for the front of the countershaft. KD makes a tool that will do the job. It is a screw type (2012 is the number I think or is it 1220). Mine came from NAPA.



Lots of owners have done their getrag. EZGZ did a very good detail write up on the job. Check his post. Carolina cummins did his. I have done a few. Andy Mikonis started what he calls the Getrag preservation society. While I am not a founding member, I am a sustaining member in good standing. All you have to do to gain membership is to successfully repair you getrag. Sustaining members help with advise. I have been on the road quite a lot recently and am not reliable to answer questions but on about a third day schedule, I do check messages and will be happy to advise if you decide to do the job. Should you want to do that, PM with your email address and I will follow up. I prefer to use email rather than PMs so that I can more easily keep the stuff in order. I am home tonight and in the morning (Monday).



Again, best of luck.



James

 

[JAyers]

The truck is now hooked up to a 16ft stock trailer with 94 bales of tobacco in it. I really hate to do it but I have to get the tobacco there in the morning no matter the conditions. Ill pull the side cover and look for any unneeded material before I leave, which is really not going to help any. At least Ill know theres a need to do something.

Thanks for your offer 1stgen4evr and Smokey 01 I might take you all up on that.

 

[Mel Fuelling]

My 93 work truck had an irritating rattle that occurred whenever boost got over 20#. I thought that the rattle was in the transmission and planned on replacing the Getrag with some sort of conversion until MMiller took me for a ride in his that did not have this distinctive rattle. This was the first that I

knew that Getrags did not have to be noisy. Then when I replaced my clutch

(broken clutch hub springs) with a SBC Con O, I found out that my Getrag wasn't noisy either.



I like my Getrag so well now that I am looking for parts to put one in my automatic truck.



Mel