Ranger has an odd noise

[rangerin]

My 2WD automatic '84 ranger just started making a funky noise last night on the way home from work. It sounds like a rotating squeak that only happens when I'm driving less than 10mph. When I speed up, it squeaks faster, but soon disappears. It doesn't always squeak when I drive slow. I'd say 50% of the time.

Now for the weird part; it only happens in drive. I tried to figure out what was causing the noise by coasting in neutral but as soon as I pop it in neutral, the noise disappears. I didn't test it in either of the low gears or reverse, but it goes away in neutral for sure. I haven't checked my tranny fluid yet, but it's always been fine and I don't have any trouble shifting. I will check my fluid later and see if it makes the noise in the low gears and reverse also.


Any ideas?

 

[swynx]

Drive shaft?

 

[ab_slack]

A squeak like that sounds like it is related to wheel turning. Everything from differential forward in drive train turns at 3x the rate and wouldn't

I don't know why it doesn't happen in neutral.

Assuming symptom with regards to neutral is secondary or not strictly linked to the problem. My first guess is something related to the brakes. Possibly pads getting worn or the calipers not releasing completely or the pins that allow the caliper to center on the rotor not really letting it do its thing. Or if in the rear drums are slightly out of round, brake shoe or maybe even parking brake dragging. It isn't uncommon for something in brakes dragging or rubbing a little to make sounds at low speeds like that but as you go faster they go away.

Next candidate would be a wheel bearing going.

Neither of these explain why it doesn't happen in neutral. Wheel bearing in particular can change with load so in drive verses neutral might be a factor.

Does it go away when you depress the brakes? Does turning make it better or worse?

I would start by trying to ascertain what quadrant it is coming from. I would check the front brake pads which is easy. Rear brakes are more of a pain, but if noise is from the rear check there.

 

[rangerin]

Thanks for the replies.

The noise is not brake related. I just recently changed my brakes and using them has no effect on the noise (other that the noise slowing down as my speed decreases). Also, I just recently changed my front bearings.

It is quite strange because I can crawl in drive and the noise will be there (it's pretty apparent) but as soon as I pop it in neutral it's gone. Similarly, just as soon as I pop it in drive, the noise comes back. While crawling, I can quite literally, pop in between drive and neutral and the noise will come and go accordingly. Turning seems to have no effect also.

 

[swynx]

Put it in drive push on the brakes and hit the gas. Don't do a burn out just enough to put pressure on thing is it still there?

 

[rangerin]

Put it in drive push on the brakes and hit the gas. Don't do a burn out just enough to put pressure on thing is it still there?

Had to laugh at that. My ranger doing a burnout.

Anyways, tried that, and no squeak. Tested the other gears too. It will squeak in both low gears, but not in reverse.

 

[black_demon69]

Had to laugh at that. My ranger doing a burnout.

Anyways, tried that, and no squeak. Tested the other gears too. It will squeak in both low gears, but not in reverse.

probably u joints sound goes away in neutral because drive train doesn't have any load on it..