Whining Transmission Normal?

Just trying to get a feel for what's normal given there are a lot of transmission boxes and having migrated from a Series IIA with overdrive (no sir, never whines!).

Not loud but I can hear the transmission clearly, sounds like Gearbox/Transfer box area (Auto 4.6). Varies with road speed not engine speed. No change on acceleration, steering or overrrun.

Should it be silent or is a bit of noise to be expected? All nice and smooth. No rumbles or clunks or odd gear-changes. Diff levels are good (waiting for better weather to get to gearbox/transfer box) and will grease the UJs when I get a chance.

Plan to change all the tranny fluids in the spring but should I be doing this sooner? 120K miles on the old girl and I doubt they've ever been changed.

Check oil level in the transfer box. Should be no whining.

Thanks. Had a feeling that might be the case.

Will have to brave the nasty stuff or find a dry warm spot.

Just to follow up.

Transfer Box was a good call. Level was a little low but not by much (100ml maybe).

Drained and re-filled whilst there and what came out was black! Not quite sure what would do that (just a chain, a few gears and the VC as far as I'm aware), but can't be good. Will probably run it for a bit and drain and refill again.

Good news was that the gearbox was quite clean and the filter had been done before.

Still just as noisy but at least a little peace of mind that it shouldn't get worse.

albany said:

Just to follow up.

Transfer Box was a good call. Level was a little low but not by much (100ml maybe).

Drained and re-filled whilst there and what came out was black! Not quite sure what would do that (just a chain, a few gears and the VC as far as I'm aware), but can't be good. Will probably run it for a bit and drain and refill again.

Good news was that the gearbox was quite clean and the filter had been done before.

Still just as noisy but at least a little peace of mind that it shouldn't get worse.

Click to expand...

What did you fill it with? Should be ATF DexIId or Dex III.

Dex III as per Rave.

Looked runny enough to be Dex III coming out - but certainly not Red!

Different to my Old Series with a good dose of EP90 for everything.

albany said:

Just to follow up.

Transfer Box was a good call. Level was a little low but not by much (100ml maybe).

Drained and re-filled whilst there and what came out was black! Not quite sure what would do that (just a chain, a few gears and the VC as far as I'm aware), but can't be good. Will probably run it for a bit and drain and refill again.

Good news was that the gearbox was quite clean and the filter had been done before.

Still just as noisy but at least a little peace of mind that it shouldn't get worse.

Click to expand...

If it's whining you have a bearing on it's way home. It will get worse. New oil may lubricate better but it won't smooth out the pits in the journals and bearings.

Yes,

Had already concluded a rebuild might be on the cards. 6 big ball races by the looks of things. Just want to keep it running till the weather is better and I can take it apart at leisure - doesn't sound too nasty yet and isn't getting noticeably worse.

Haven't looked at this job in RAVE yet but is this a DIY prospect? I've done a few gearboxes in my time and the chain looks doable. Any big presses needed?

albany said:

Yes,

Had already concluded a rebuild might be on the cards. 6 big ball races by the looks of things. Just want to keep it running till the weather is better and I can take it apart at leisure - doesn't sound too nasty yet and isn't getting noticeably worse.

Haven't looked at this job in RAVE yet but is this a DIY prospect? I've done a few gearboxes in my time and the chain looks doable. Any big presses needed?

Click to expand...

If you have done gearbox strips it should be no problem. Look in RAVE at overhaul section.

So,

Transfer box replaced with one rebuilt by Ashcroft. Noticeable improvement but still some whining, which is audible inside and outside.

Found a receipt for gearbox fluid and filter change at 65k miles, and as noted above, I did that again at present mileage of 120k - what came out of the gearbox was all nice and clean.

Diff oil that came out was perhaps thicker than the official stuff I put back in and had a partially grey consistency (metal particles?) particularly at the front. No idea whether diffs had been done before - no sign in receipts. Didn't look a particularly unusual amount of larger metal particles on the drain plugs.

Any easy way to diagnose which parts are still whining?

albany said:

So,

Transfer box replaced with one rebuilt by Ashcroft. Noticeable improvement but still some whining, which is audible inside and outside.

Found a receipt for gearbox fluid and filter change at 65k miles, and as noted above, I did that again at present mileage of 120k - what came out of the gearbox was all nice and clean.

Diff oil that came out was perhaps thicker than the official stuff I put back in and had a partially grey consistency (metal particles?) particularly at the front. No idea whether diffs had been done before - no sign in receipts. Didn't look a particularly unusual amount of larger metal particles on the drain plugs.

Any easy way to diagnose which parts are still whining?

Click to expand...

If it's the pinion bearings which maybe favourite they usually whine more on the over run than on drive.

Have you checked the VCU?

Datatek said:

Have you checked the VCU?

Click to expand...

As in viscous coupling in Transfer box?

I haven't checked it. Should have been done by Ashcroft when transfer box rebuilt, but if it'll make that noise perhaps I should.

albany said:

As in viscous coupling in Transfer box?

I haven't checked it. Should have been done by Ashcroft when transfer box rebuilt, but if it'll make that noise perhaps I should.

Click to expand...

That's the one, worth checking every service. If it seizes, it can make some makes of tyre sing with a kind of whining noise.

Datatek said:

it can make some makes of tyre sing with a kind of whining noise.

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Interesting. As it drove off the other day with me outside, it sounded very much like tyres. I have the same Nexen tyres as I believe you have (from another thread). Not very aggressive so I didn't expect noise from them, but of course with a bit of front/back wind-up...

Transfer box is still under warranty fortunately, so I'll hurry up and check.

albany said:

Interesting. As it drove off the other day with me outside, it sounded very much like tyres. I have the same Nexen tyres as I believe you have (from another thread). Not very aggressive so I didn't expect noise from them, but of course with a bit of front/back wind-up...

Transfer box is still under warranty fortunately, so I'll hurry up and check.

Click to expand...

Nexen Rodians are incredibly quiet on mine, huge difference to the Wranglers

VCU checks out fine, but I think I have the culprit.

1-2mm lateral play in front diff pinion bearing.

Having done a bit more experimenting, the noise is quiet on no load (just coasting) but present on acceleration and slightly more on deceleration.

As I understand it, noise on accel indicates wear on crown and pinion as well as pinion bearing problems. Sounds like a front diff rebuild...

On the upside, UJs and rear diff checks out well, and I can now reliably select first gear after properly adjusting the gear selector cable while I was under there. Small mercies!

Of course I only realised I couldn't get first gear when I really needed it...gradually getting there after nearly one year with the old girl.

albany said:

VCU checks out fine, but I think I have the culprit.

1-2mm lateral play in front diff pinion bearing.

Having done a bit more experimenting, the noise is quiet on no load (just coasting) but present on acceleration and slightly more on deceleration.

As I understand it, noise on accel indicates wear on crown and pinion as well as pinion bearing problems. Sounds like a front diff rebuild...

On the upside, UJs and rear diff checks out well, and I can now reliably select first gear after properly adjusting the gear selector cable while I was under there. Small mercies!

Of course I only realised I couldn't get first gear when I really needed it...gradually getting there after nearly one year with the old girl.

Click to expand...

that much play its not surprising its noisy

Just to update.

Front diff now replaced with re-built unit and its much better.
Still whines a little, but wallet says I need to stop swapping bits out!

Can't feel any play in the drivetrain and all nicely lubed so I think just live with it now.

Glad your nearly there with it!