Transfer case lock noises

tristan · Apr 13, 2011

Hi

I have a serious clunking noise and wonder if someone can help me identify it. It happens when I lock up my transfer case and steer. If I drive straight it's fine. It sounds like a metallic bang bang bang noise. It is only present with the centre diff lock engaged. I don;t think it's CV joints because if the CDL is not engaged I can steer full lock with no noises.

Any ideas???

Thanks!

Bromsgrove Defender · Apr 13, 2011

tristan said:
Hi

I have a serious clunking noise and wonder if someone can help me identify it. It happens when I lock up my transfer case and steer. If I drive straight it's fine. It sounds like a metallic bang bang bang noise. It is only present with the centre diff lock engaged. I don;t think it's CV joints because if the CDL is not engaged I can steer full lock with no noises.

Any ideas???

Thanks!

Can we assume that you Locked your Diff on snow or Mud or wet grass ??

tristan · Apr 13, 2011

Bromsgrove Defender said:
Can we assume that you Locked your Diff on snow or Mud or wet grass ??

Yes I did - it seems to happen on any surface.

Bromsgrove Defender · Apr 13, 2011

tristan said:
Yes I did - it seems to happen on any surface.

Thats what I was worried about.

Have you used Diff Lock on tarmac?

Has it always done it or only just started to do it?

Bromsgrove Defender · Apr 13, 2011

Does Hi or Low range make any difference ?

tristan · Apr 13, 2011

Bromsgrove Defender said:
Thats what I was worried about.

Have you used Diff Lock on tarmac?

Has it always done it or only just started to do it?

I bought the vehicle a few weeks ago and it has always done it. The transfer case shift lever was so jammed up I couldn't test it before buying. I managed to negotiate a price reduction because of this though! I'd never use it on tarmac.

tristan · Apr 13, 2011

Bromsgrove Defender said:
Does Hi or Low range make any difference ?

Nope, it happens in high and low.

Bromsgrove Defender · Apr 13, 2011

tristan said:
I bought the vehicle a few weeks ago and it has always done it. The transfer case shift lever was so jammed up I couldn't test it before buying. I managed to negotiate a price reduction because of this though! I'd never use it on tarmac.

Hmmm I wonder why the shift lever was jammed up

Bought privately sold as seen I guess?

tristan · Apr 13, 2011

Bromsgrove Defender said:
Hmmm I wonder why the shift lever was jammed up

Bought privately sold as seen I guess?

Of course! The shift lever was jammed up because of the usual build up of crap, lack of greasing and seized up linkages! Even with the control rods disconnected it was pretty much impossible to move - all sorted now though. And even if I need to do some work I'm happy with the price paid.

Any idea what the most likely culprit might be?

Bromsgrove Defender · Apr 13, 2011

tristan said:
I bought the vehicle a few weeks ago and it has always done it. The transfer case shift lever was so jammed up I couldn't test it before buying. I managed to negotiate a price reduction because of this though! I'd never use it on tarmac.

Hope you negotiated enough of a price reduction to overhaul your Transfer box. Cos it sounds to me like thats where the problem is.

Maybe, just maybe front or rear diff jumping are you sure the banging is coming from the transfer box?

The best way of checking your Diff's is to drain them and look for bits of metal in the oil.
Probably be a good idea to change the diff oil anyway, who knows when it was last done and or how much water is in it.

Bromsgrove Defender · Apr 13, 2011

Same goes for the gear/transfer box oil too thinking about it.

jamesmartin · Apr 13, 2011

fine out of diff lock? if it bangs in diff lock with wheel in lock on hard surface which to some extent is normal as wheels wind up transmission ,i would check diff nose brgs for movement up/down not rotationally ,ujs for play ,center diff play by jacking up wheels and turning prop,diff lock is fully engaging /disengaging and not bouncing on splines it is spring loaded in and out ,by jacking front wheel up and trying it while spinning wheel

Bromsgrove Defender · Apr 13, 2011

jamesmartin said:
fine out of diff lock? if it bangs in diff lock with wheel in lock on hard surface which to some extent is normal as wheels wind up transmission ,i would check diff nose brgs for movement up/down not rotationally ,ujs for play ,center diff play by jacking up wheels and turning prop,diff lock is fully engaging /disengaging and not bouncing on splines it is spring loaded in and out ,by jacking front wheel up and trying it while spinning wheel

That's what I thought, but would it be the same if it bangs in diff lock on ice etc?

tristan · Apr 13, 2011

I got more than enough off for a transfer box rebuild. I've changed oil in both diffs, transfer case and gear box. No big lumps came out! There's a fait bit of play in the driveline somewhere, possibly front diff, which I need to address. Was hoping it was the drive flanges but no luck.

tristan · Apr 13, 2011

I'll get under it tomorrow and give the whole drive line a thorough going over. I know the front diff nose oil seal is shot - maybe the bearing is too. We'll see!

Thanks

tottot · Apr 13, 2011

Still may be a cv,the load going through the drive shafts/axles is greater with diff locked even when turning off road and this may set the cv banging,

Bromsgrove Defender · Apr 13, 2011

tristan said:
I'll get under it tomorrow and give the whole drive line a thorough going over. I know the front diff nose oil seal is shot - maybe the bearing is too. We'll see!

Thanks

Maybe thats it. Hope you find it what ever it is

BearDy89 · Apr 13, 2011

hi Tristan,

I had a similar issue with my first 90, however mine happend when i was in difflock or not, if i was going on full lock for more than couple seconds i would get a horrible Bang and the whole landy would jump.

Unfortunatly after trying every other solution, CVs, Diffs etc.
I had to fit a 2nd hand Tbox, it cost me £100 which was a good price, just make sure the 2nd hand one your buying is better than the one youve got.

I drained my Tbox oil and had hand fulls of metal and even some Whole teeth!!
Worth draining yours as it will give you a indication!!

Cheers Sam

tristan · Apr 16, 2011

Right I've had a play about and I suspect my centre diff / transfer box may be shot to pieces. This is my reasoning:

All UJs OK - I had a good pry around.

I put the truck up on stands, started the engine and engaged gear to spin the wheels. Horrific rattling noise from gearbox area whether diff lock engaged or not. With no load on the wheels backlash is extremely evident and noisy.

Stopping each front wheel in turn made no difference to the noise.
Putting handbrake on (stopping rear wheels) made no difference.

Turned engine off, diff lock on, hand brake on, one front wheel locked with ratchet strap. Tried turning opposite front wheel. The front propshaft turned immediately indicating not much backlash in front diff. However the front propshaft could turn 1/8 turn before being stopped by the centre diff lock and handbrake. Is this much backlash in the centre diff normal?

Tristan

jamesmartin · Apr 16, 2011

if you had difflock on it was dog clutch you where testing not centre diff,,remove sump off t/box you may have centre diff internal gear shaft wear or brgs ,there shouldnt be any movement apart from rotational on diff and gears

Transfer case lock noises

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