Such a thing as "normal" amount of shavings from transfer case?

[Darksyne]

I recently began getting drivetrain noises, a whirring as I slowly accelerate, a rumble when decelerating. It also feels like there is a drag on the drivetrain as I have to give it more gas to maintain the same speed. No chirping or locked up wheels, just a feeling of resistance when going straight and around corners. The noises are only when in gear, not in neutral.

I checked all the fluids yesterday, transmission fluid was good (no metal), the TC had plenty of fluid but it was black (smelled like motor oil?) and I had about a 1/2 teaspoon of powder and small shavings on the drain plug (small as in the largest was a piece 4mmX4mm).

I searched the Digest and saw a few posts where people said finding some metal on the TC drain plug was normal. Is this true?

Are there any good tests to determine if the problem is with the transfer case vs. the center differential?

Thanks!

 

[yoshimitsuspeed]

I recently began getting drivetrain noises, a whirring as I slowly accelerate, a rumble when decelerating. It also feels like there is a drag on the drivetrain as I have to give it more gas to maintain the same speed. No chirping or locked up wheels, just a feeling of resistance when going straight and around corners. The noises are only when in gear, not in neutral.

I checked all the fluids yesterday, transmission fluid was good (no metal), the TC had plenty of fluid but it was black (smelled like motor oil?) and I had about a 1/2 teaspoon of powder and small shavings on the drain plug (small as in the largest was a piece 4mmX4mm).

I searched the Digest and saw a few posts where people said finding some metal on the TC drain plug was normal. Is this true?

Are there any good tests to determine if the problem is with the transfer case vs. the center differential?

Thanks!

When you say it doesnt do it in nuetral do you mean while your moving?
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19280
first I would take it to the dealership and have them look at it show them the metal.
Some small metal shavings are normal but they shuld be tiny glitterflakes not 4mm chuncks. It may or may not be your problem but it's not a real good sign.

 

[Defiant]

Yes.

NONE.

 

[Darksyne]

When you say it doesnt do it in nuetral do you mean while your moving?
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19280
first I would take it to the dealership and have them look at it show them the metal.
Some small metal shavings are normal but they shuld be tiny glitterflakes not 4mm chuncks. It may or may not be your problem but it's not a real good sign.

Yeah if I'm moving and put it in neutral there are no sounds so the problem is definitely drivetrain-related.

Thanks for the response!

 

[Darksyne]

Yes.

NONE.

Gotcha.

So I guess some fine powder is normal but anything larger is bad news.

I'm swapping transfer cases this weekend so I'll update this thread after I test it out.

Thanks

 

[MattnGsx]

My t-case did that. Why swap? Change the oil in the Tcase, mine went away.

 

[Darksyne]

My t-case did that. Why swap? Change the oil in the Tcase, mine went away.

I've already changed the oil in the TC and the noise and symptoms are still there. The symptoms only appear after the fluid gets warm, when the car is cold everything is fine.

 

[MattnGsx]

What about the Transmission? When I changed the Tc, I also did the Transmission. At the time, I thought oil flowed through the both of them. I relized it wasn't the case when I changed the seals on the T-case. So the noise could have been the tranny, but regardless the noise went away.

Good luck too you on fixing it though. I know I hate it when something goes wrong on my car. WHich is weekly...

 

[Defiant]

So I guess some fine powder is normal but anything larger is bad news.

Fine powder isn't normal. There should be absolutely no shavings, chips, silver paint nor anything else other than oil in the transfer case oil.

 

[Darksyne]

What about the Transmission? When I changed the Tc, I also did the Transmission. At the time, I thought oil flowed through the both of them. I relized it wasn't the case when I changed the seals on the T-case. So the noise could have been the tranny, but regardless the noise went away.

Good luck too you on fixing it though. I know I hate it when something goes wrong on my car. WHich is weekly...

Yeah I changed both at the same time, the transmission fluid looked great. I've driven it a few more times to see if I can detect any more symptoms but I haven't experienced the vibration / rumbling again.

I guess I'll keep driving it and see if it comes back, damn this is annoying

Thanks again for your help

 

[Darksyne]

Fine powder isn't normal. There should be absolutely no shavings, chips, silver paint nor anything else other than oil in the transfer case oil.

Thanks for clarifying Defiant, I thought you were exaggerating in your first post.

So powder would be abnormal wear, while anything larger indicates damage somewhere in the transfer case.

When dealing with the transmission / transfer case / rear differential is there ever a time that powder would be normal, like after a fresh rebuild?

Thanks!

 

[JDMFirstGen]

Defiant, no offence, but you are wrong. It is perfectly normal to have a small amount of "glitter sized" shavings on the magnet in the tranfer case, tranny, and differential.
But this should only build up after a year or two of driving. And their should be no chunks, nothing that is more than fine glitter. This is just normal wear and tear. You are supposed to clean the magnet each time you change the fluid though. But since he said he had chunks, it sounds like he needs a new transfer case. Get a free one from the dealer under the safty recall. Just search for that thread.

Good Luck,
Sean

 

[yoshimitsuspeed]

Defiant, no offence, but you are wrong. It is perfectly normal to have a small amount of "glitter sized" shavings on the magnet in the tranfer case, tranny, and differential.
But this should only build up after a year or two of driving. And their should be no chunks, nothing that is more than fine glitter. This is just normal wear and tear. You are supposed to clean the magnet each time you change the fluid though. But since he said he had chunks, it sounds like he needs a new transfer case. Get a free one from the dealer under the safty recall. Just search for that thread.

Good Luck,
Sean

Yeah I have never changed fluids on a vehicle with a magnetic plug that didn't have some level of filings on the plug.
Defiant probably just changes his fluids every 300 miles before it has a chance to build up.

If not he should tell us what kind of fluid he is using.