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Noise from t-case

Green Monster

Green Monster

1/2 ton status
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Thousand Oaks, CA
I swapped my 203 out for a 205. Professionally rebuilt by a trans shop, owner is a square body guy, and I'm confident he did it right. I'm getting a slight howling noise at part throttle. So not when I'm on the gas, or off it, but in between. And it only starts once it's warmed up. Any thoughts? I figure it's the t-case, since I didn't hear it before with the 203. And it may not even be noticeable once I seal up the hole in the floorboard.....it's open to the t-case now.
 
skunked said:
Are you sure it's in 2wd? Fluid level ok?
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Yes, positive it's in 2wd because I can see the driveshaft. It spins a little, but certainly not locked in. I understand there is a little kinetic movement with the front driveshaft when it's in 2wd. And fluid is full. I've heard these are a lot noisier than other t-cases, so not sure if this is normal for a 205. And I think it's pronounced with the hole in the floor. But it certainly sounds like a bearing.
 
I wouldn't consider a 205 noisey. Are you sure the linkage isn't rattling?
 
skunked said:
I wouldn't consider a 205 noisey. Are you sure the linkage isn't rattling?
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Not sure. It's certainly not tight, lots of play but I don't know how to tighten it up. I mean, all the bolts are tight. And it's not a gear noise.....I've owned a v-drive boat so I know gear noise. This sounds like a bearing, or something spinning, but I would think a bearing noise would be constant, and consistent with RPMs. Maybe I can film and post it in a few days when I take it out again.
 
95% chance it's a driveline vibration. Pull the rear shaft, drive it in 4WD (now front wheel drive) and see if it changes.

All gear driven cases are this way, if there's any vibration in the driveshaft they'll "rattle" under light throtlle/coast and quiet up under throttle (because the torque puts pressure on the gears).
 
1977k5 said:
95% chance it's a driveline vibration. Pull the rear shaft, drive it in 4WD (now front wheel drive) and see if it changes.

All gear driven cases are this way, if there's any vibration in the driveshaft they'll "rattle" under light throtlle/coast and quiet up under throttle (because the torque puts pressure on the gears).
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OK thanks I'll try that. But I can't feel any vibration while driving, it's super smooth.
 
If it has a splined coupler between the T-case and tranny,those can make some annoying noises under coast or no load conditions..
 
I've had two older (1972 vintage) NP-205's coupled to a TH350,and the adapter had a bearing (or two ?) in the adapter and either a splined coupler or the inside diameter of the bearings were splined,to join them together...those bearings could go bad..mine never had any issues there,but I had a SM-465 with an NP-205 that wore out the splined coupling due to worn tranny output splines (the old 10 spline design)..that rattling buzzing scoring noise drove me batty for many thousands of miles!..
 
I agree with @1977k5 . My '70 does this and I chased it like crazy!!! I did the front wheel drive test and confirmed that the rear made the noise.
I couldn't ever get a decent pattern on the gears in the rear diff. After lots of miles and years, I swapped out the gearset again, this set came out nice, the noise improved. It didn't completely go away, but I haven't chased it any more....
I do have the '72 vintage 205, but new bearings in it had no effect.
 
Well, you could always swap it out for a Spicer/Dana 18 transfer case out of an older model Jeep..........
I guarantee you that you will not ever be bothered by any other noises in your truck. I put a 5 watt waterproof loudspeaker horn inside my old '60 model CJ-5 just so I could hear the radio when driving.

I would drive it as long as I could stand it, then crawl under and do the maddening process of changing out the idler gear and needle bearings. Which would quiet it down enough for two people to have a conversation for about 10K.
Then the noise would start creeping louder again.
One day, I found a conversion kit that swapped out the needle bearings for tapered roller bearings. Total silence, and lasted forever! But then, it took me a month to chase down all the squeaks and rattles that I had never heard before.......
 
1977k5 said:
Driveline vibration, even if you can't feel it.
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Since mine is a pretty common combo, any suggestions as to the solution to fix it once? Not looking forward to pulling it apart 3 or 4 times. 4" lift, 205 t-case. Everything in stock location. I've tried the driveline angle apps on my phone, and I get different readings every time. Would love it if someone knows of the fix.
 
skunked said:
more than likely.
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If I understand correctly, I'd have to have the rear output on the t-case changed to a flange, then have my driveshaft changed too. Sounds like big bucks. I just had the t-case rebuilt and the driveshafts are brand new. That would suck.
 
Green Monster said:
If I understand correctly, I'd have to have the rear output on the t-case changed to a flange, then have my driveshaft changed too. Sounds like big bucks. I just had the t-case rebuilt and the driveshafts are brand new. That would suck.
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not necessarily. Provide some answers to the questions and maybe we can help you find a cheaper solution.
 
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