Low Growl Which Increases with Speed

[wgood]

As you can see we live in Texas, but we are traveling in Alaska for the summer towing our 37 foot fifth wheel. Our GCW is about 26,000. My truck has about 212,000 miles on it. I had the six-speed transmission rebuilt (and new SB heavy duty organic clutch) in April at Standard Transmission in Ft. Worth - filled with 8 qts AMSOIL fluid. Since then we have put about 10,000 miles on the truck. The rear end has a Maghytec cover and I changed the fluid 25,000 miles ago. I just checked the fluid and it is clear and full. I have changed the fluid in the rear end 6 or 8 times and the fluid has never been discolored.



Over the last 2 or 3 weeks, we "think" we have begun to notice a low growl that seems to increase with speed. I don't think it is engine related since if I push in the clutch and take my foot off the fuel pedal, it still seems to be there. I don't see how it could be the transmission or the rear end given what I stated in the first paragraph.



Any ideas as to what else it might be?



Also, we are in the Kenai Penninsula but will be going back up to Anchorage next week. Are there any Alaska TDR members who would recommend a reliable shop there or nearby to check it out? Or should I just go to a Dodge dealer - if so which one is recommended?



Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.



Bill

 

[Dreamer]

I would check u joints. I just had that issue and it was the rear u joint. It may be hard to tell if it's shot without taking it out unless you can feel it's loose. If you had an infrared temp. sensor you could "shoot" the u joints to see if one is hotter than the rest. Good luck.

 

[Got HO?]

Bad wheel bearing or feathered tire could also be a possibility.

 

[wgood]

We returned to Anchorage from the Kenai Penninsula with the noise getting more persistent. This morning I took the truck to Lythia Dodge as I had heard several ads on TV for them. They diagnosed the problem as bad wheel bearings and replaced both of the front bearings. Now the noise is gone and the truck is running smoothly. Not cheap, but at least it is fixed.

Thanks to Dreamer and Got HO? for your input.

Bill

 

[Dreamer]

We returned to Anchorage from the Kenai Penninsula with the noise getting more persistent. This morning I took the truck to Lythia Dodge as I had heard several ads on TV for them. They diagnosed the problem as bad wheel bearings and replaced both of the front bearings. Now the noise is gone and the truck is running smoothly. Not cheap, but at least it is fixed.

Thanks to Dreamer and Got HO? for your input.


Bill

Glad it wasn't anything more serious. This is a case where you may have been able to detect a "hot" bearing with the laser temp sensor by comparing the two sides. I just bought one for $39. 95 and carry it in the truck to check things like u joints, bearings, brakes, tires and anything else I suspect may be a problem.