So...still chasing down my rattling noise...t-case rebuild didn't fix it. I remember when I was putting my truck back together a couple years ago when I did a ton of work, the clutch fork clips were really flimsy. We knocked them off twice trying to get the tranny back in. I couldn't believe at the time that they could possibly hold the throwout bearing on the clutch fork. But all the people I showed photos to...it looked like I had them on there right. And we figured that once the bearing is sandwiched in there, it's really tight anyways and the clips probably don't make any difference at that point.

But...anybody think that could be my rattling noise? If the clips came off, maybe the throwout bearing is moving around a bit on the clutch cover teeth?

Just looking for ideas. I've finally hit the point where I will be taking it to a shop to have someone help me diagnose it, but still...

Just in case- one u-joint replaced, the other I brought to the driveline guy twice and he says it's fine. Rear diff replaced. T-case rebuilt. I've shook & rattled everything under the truck, nothing that I can find it loose. Engine, tranny and clutch are rebuilt/new. (but of course that unfortunately doesn't rule them completely out...)

 

remember, I had clutch fork rattle and its gone after I replaced my slave cyl. if you havnt, just do it, its 10 bucks.

 

Yeah I should. Mine is 2 years old so I'm hesitant. Also, I buy OEM, so it will be a bit more than 10 bucks, but still pretty cheap. Thanks.

 

rattles are pertty difficult to diagnose on the internet .. expecially when you cant take a ride or even hear the said noise ..

I doubt the clips are your problem .. I have done 10's of engines and clutches and never had 1 "shake" loose ..

have you checked your tranny mount ? your just going to have to be more specifc on your noise ?



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I know, very hard to diagnose over the internet. I've gone through this more than a couple times on this site without much help, so I didn't feel like going over it all again, but here goes:

It used to be every once in a while. When I accelerate, I sometimes would get a rattling noise, like a couple spoons being banged together. Sometimes when I'd shift from first to second, I'd get a pop or clang. I still sometimes get a little clang that I'd think would be a u-joint when I first engage first gear from a stop.

Now it almost always makes the rattling noise when I drive, whether I'm on the gas or off. Sometimes I think maybe it's a bit worse when I first let off the gas...it gets a bit louder/more intense sounding. Can't quite tell if it's coming from right behind me or right below me.

Now...after rebuilding the t-case I took it for a test drive and the noise was still there, bad as ever. I drove it this weekend, took it on a small road trip, and ever since then...it actually went away for a bit. I've heard it a little here and there, but quieter than before, and it was just plain gone for about a day. This may be nothing and not be important, but it's weird so I thought I'd mention it.

On the drive home I was on a windy road where I was between 4th & 5th gear, and at times, in 4th, when I'd let off the gas, it seemed a bit "rumbly", with some vibration, but it's hard to tell if that was the road or what. That's a new thing with this truck. But then I hadn't driven it for a month while I was rebuilding the t-case, and because of this noise, I haven't taken it out of town in almost a year, so it's hard to say what's normal anymore.

So, again- rebuilt engine, tranny, new clutch ~15,000 miles ago. Swapped rear diff last fall. Brought driveshaft to shop last fall-one replaced, other checked out fine. Brought it to him again this spring, he checked it out again. Said he'd take my $50 bucks and replace it if I wanted, but he really didn't think it's my problem. T-case is newly rebuilt. I've shook everything I could think of under the truck and nothing seems to make noise.

When I took in the rear driveshaft, I locked in the front hubs and drove it over to the shop in front wheel (4wheel) drive. Didn't hear the noise then...but I don't always hear the noise anyways, so it's hard to say if that's because the rear shaft was out or not...so I just really can't be sure that means anything.

 

way back when ... my first truck had a simular noise "the spoons" .. took me ~ a year to find it because it was intermitant . turned out to be the little splash shield inside the rear diff


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Inside the rear diff? Splash sheild? What's it look like? I've got my old rear diff sitting on the garage floor.

The crappy thing is that swapping out rear diffs made no difference in the noise. So unless the newer one has the same exact problem...I don't think it's my issue.

What I've considered: the seriously bad chance that it could be my L52HD. 1 year + past warranty. Clutch-maybe it's loose? I torqued it correctly, but may have forgot threadlock...Slave cylinder not holding the clutch fork firmly? It's new, but that doesn't mean it's not defective. Maybe, just maybe the '87 rear diff that I put in has the same issue as my original rear diff and that's my problem. No idea what else. Is there a splash shield in the tranny?

The truck does not make the noise when I'm idling or sitting still, which is why I'm thinking it's not a loose clutch fork issue. I have to be moving to get the noise, although that makes me think...I should rev the truck while not moving, just to absolutely make sure that last statement is true.

Thanks for the help.