Weird Noise

[XVTer]

I've got a '96 2.3L 5sp 2WD.

The last couple days, I have been having a howl that seems to be coming from the front of the transmission; I'm thinking it's probably the throwout bearing or possibly the bearing on the input shaft for the transmision. Could possibly be a bad u-joint or the carrier bearing but they all look to be in decent shape and the sound is coming from further forward. I get the howl over 30 mph and it doesn't matter if the clutch is engaged or not. I can shut the motor off and coast and its still there. I don't think it's a front bearing as I jacked the truck up and the wheels don't move in any funny directions.

At first I thought it might be low on fluid so I drained out the old fluid and refilled it with some new synthetic ATF as I have been meaning to do that anyway; measuring it out, it was only about 1/4 of a qt low. Taking it for a drive afterward yielded the same weird noise.

Has anyone had this type of issue?

 

[Bryan22]

does it go away when you put pressure on the clutch pedal?

 

[XVTer]

does it go away when you put pressure on the clutch pedal?

Nope. No matter the position of the clutch, it still makes the noise. When I push the clutch in and coast, it doesn't go away either...kinda the reason I'm thinking it's something in the tranny (input shaft bearing maybe). If I hit the gas hard, it goes away slightly but then comes back as soon as I let off a little. I think I've gotta pick up a service manual and check it out.

 

[Derek The Great]

is your truck an extended cab or a long box? If so your driveshaft's carrier bearing is going south. I replaced mine last summer after fixing damn near everything else, hell i even rebuilt the rearend. lol i didnt kno thats what it was till it broke.. At that point it sounded like someone was taking a jackhammer to my floor boards...

 

[XVTer]

Extended Cab.

Thanks for the help; I'll look at replacing that first.

 

[Ford 460 Boy]

If that don,t work I would look further into the bearings being bad in the transmission. Mine howls, but the tone is different in higher gears OD is the loudest. The sound is heared any time the truck is moving.

 

[turboranger306]

i agree with derek.. carrier bearing

 

[XVTer]

The carrier bearing was replaced by the previous owner (metalmacguyver)

I picked up a used transmission for $100, threw it in, problem solved. The transmission whines a little sort of like yours Ford 460 Boy. For $100 and a few hours of my time, I can't complain

Thanks for the help, guys.