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Clanging noise incoming from driveshaft/transfer case

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Casem13

Proven Member
81
9
Apr 15, 2017
Olympia, Washington
Posting this here because I was getting no response in drivetrain.

So I normally can hear a pop noise when I move my car forward or back from a parked position. It only pops once and then it won’t do it again until I’m parked again. And I have no idea why. But it’s sounds like it’s coming from the passenger side. And I’ve already checked for anything loose or broken and nothing. But now today I went to the store and just before I turned into my home I had to stop for traffic. I then went to pull forward and I get this loud sound that sounds like someone banging two metal pipes together. And I can kind of feel it in my feet. I had my girlfriend stand next to my car and tell me where the sound was coming from and she pointed to where the transfer case and driveshaft are. The car drives fine and it only makes the noise when accelerating forward or backward. I have no idea what could be causing it.
 
Double post, so you should delete one.
It is hard to get response for this kind of issues because there are so many possibilities, it is hard to distinguish without seeing/hearing. If you take some video and upload it, then you would probably have more helps.
Sounds like bad carrier bearings to me, did you check it?
 
Edit: agreed, you shouldn't just spam because you don't get a reply in a couple hours. We all have lives and tho they somewhat include these cars and this site, were not always able to reply right away.

Loose carrier bearings or exhaust banging against something is what it's description sounds like. Have to get it on a lift and put it in gear to narrow it down.
 
Last edited:
As stated above could be a million different things. These problems seem to be common in automatic cars across different makes

In my case my Volvo made an almost undetectable noise from the passenger side when my automatic shifted down to first or was at low speeds <20mph. Turned out to be the axle boot of all things.

Then my friend with a diesel jeep had a loud bang sound come from passenger side when her automatic shifted down to first or out of first. The jeep transmission has always been loud, since it handles haul duty and has a lot of torque shifting to the rear diff, but it did end up being a worn carrier bearing

My point is we are shooting blanks into the dark
 
Double post, so you should delete one.
It is hard to get response for this kind of issues because there are so many possibilities, it is hard to distinguish without seeing/hearing. If you take some video and upload it, then you would probably have more helps.
Sounds like bad carrier bearings to me, did you check it?

There is no thumping of the carrier bearing. I tried moving the driveshaft at the bearing and it feels fine. Like I said before. The sound is coming from the transfer case area. It only happens when in gear and moving. It actually starts to make the noise as I give it a little gas and start to lift up the clutch to move. And makes the sound like someone is banging two metal pipes together. I’ll try to get video or audio of it.
 
As stated above could be a million different things. These problems seem to be common in automatic cars across different makes

In my case my Volvo made an almost undetectable noise from the passenger side when my automatic shifted down to first or was at low speeds <20mph. Turned out to be the axle boot of all things.

Then my friend with a diesel jeep had a loud bang sound come from passenger side when her automatic shifted down to first or out of first. The jeep transmission has always been loud, since it handles haul duty and has a lot of torque shifting to the rear diff, but it did end up being a worn carrier bearing

My point is we are shooting blanks into the dark
My car is not an automatic and the issue that I’m concerned with is the metal pipe sound where the transfer case is. Because it showed up out of nowhere
 
Edit: agreed, you shouldn't just spam because you don't get a reply in a couple hours. We all have lives and tho they somewhat include these cars and this site, were not always able to reply right away.

Loose carrier bearings or exhaust banging against something is what it's description sounds like. Have to get it on a lift and put it in gear to narrow it down.
It’s not the exhaust. It is bolted down and is attached to all hangers. And the metal pipe sound came out of nowhere. And the carrier bearings are fine. The sound is coming from the transfer case area
 
My car is not an automatic and the issue that I’m concerned with is the metal pipe sound where the transfer case is. Because it showed up out of nowhere
My bad I read too far into the parked position- as in being in park- and didn't read your profile... I am assuming this only happens at low speeds, correct?

When was the last time your transmission fluids were changed? I am starting to lean towards thinking you're hearing metal to metal grinding due to low transmission fluid or something actually loose in the T-case. An audio clip would be helpful, but still the suggestion remains to lift the car and have it looked at.
 
The fluids were all changed in the transmission and transfer case 3 years ago. I’ve only put 6000 miles on it in 3 years. I drive it about once a week for a few short trips. At that time I also put in a new clutch. The car goes fine in gears when driving. And I haven’t tried driving it at high speeds with this issue. The noise just started after i came to a stop and the slowly accelerated to pull into my driveway
 
It’s not the exhaust. It is bolted down and is attached to all hangers. And the metal pipe sound came out of nowhere. And the carrier bearings are fine. The sound is coming from the transfer case area

What about worn motor mounts causing the engine or trans to hit the front subframe?

Thing is, there's not really any metal IN the t-case that can cause that pipe style sound. Can you maybe get us a sound clip?
 
The transfer case doesn't hold much fluid though, like half a qt, so I would definitely check the fluid level in it as most leak a little and half a qt is not much.
 
Double post, so you should delete one.
It is hard to get response for this kind of issues because there are so many possibilities, it is hard to distinguish without seeing/hearing. If you take some video and upload it, then you would probably have more helps.
Sounds like bad carrier bearings to me, did you check it?
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Bad mounts or/and bad front carrier bearing.
I have been having exactly the same noise on my 2g because of a bad carrier bearing. Just FYI, when you have bad carrier bearings you mostly start to hear noise from around the t-case or rear diff.
 
Bad mounts or/and bad front carrier bearing.
I have been having exactly the same noise on my 2g because of a bad carrier bearing. Just FYI, when you have bad carrier bearings you mostly start to hear noise from around the t-case or rear diff.
Yea I’ll check both. I’m also going to check the u-joint. I’m pretty sure the carrier bearing is fine. When it makes the noise I feel like the axle is binding at the transfer case. And then slipping to make the clang noise
 
So yea. Update time. Checked all of the carrier bearings and they are fine. U joints are all fine with no play. It sounds and feels like something is catching and then slipping at the transfer case
 
Bad mounts or/and bad front carrier bearing.
I have been having exactly the same noise on my 2g because of a bad carrier bearing. Just FYI, when you have bad carrier bearings you mostly start to hear noise from around the t-case or rear diff.
Carrier bearings and u joints are good. Sounds like something is catching and then slipping at the transfer case. I have an extra transfer. I’m probably going to have to swap them out to know for sure
 
Just wanted to update. Had a shop look at it. They said I have either a broken spider gear or pinion gear in the rear diff. The problem is that no place carries the parts anymore. Not even Mitsubishi and I can’t find a used one.
 
Just wanted to update. Had a shop look at it. They said I have either a broken spider gear or pinion gear in the rear diff. The problem is that no place carries the parts anymore. Not even Mitsubishi and I can’t find a used one.
Sorry to hear that. I am sure some trans builders have the parts or can rebuild your rear diff. Should ask Tim (twicks69)@TMZ or bastarddsm@White shed speed. They are often in this forum.
https://www.tmzperformance.com/
http://whiteshedspeed.com/
http://www.teamrip.com/
https://www.jackstransmissions.com/
 
Sorry to hear that. I am sure some trans builders have the parts or can rebuild your rear diff. Should ask Tim (twicks69)@TMZ or bastarddsm@White shed speed. They are often in this forum.
https://www.tmzperformance.com/
http://whiteshedspeed.com/
http://www.teamrip.com/
https://www.jackstransmissions.com/
Thanks for the support. I checked out tmzperformance, but was skeptical on the site just because it makes me nervous to send off a part and wait for it to get mailed back. And I wasn’t sure if the replaced gears. But I’ll check it out
 
If you had broken rear end parts would be hearing that in the back. My bet is on the center diff. Those break all the time for no reason at all and make lots of poping noises.
When I brought the car back from the shop (two blocks away). The sound was more from the rear this time. But I’ll keep looking
 
Looking at the video it appears the transfer case is whats making the sound banging against drivers axle perhaps? It looks like its pivoting up and down. Does it have all the mounting bolts (any fall out?) and are they all tightened down to spec?
 
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