Weird bearing noise

[Ravewolf]

Alright, so she's back at it again. Probably my fault this time. Any who, on the way back from North Dakota a few days ago, I was outside Pueblo when I heard what I can only describe as a bearing seizing. A loud squalling like noise that shook the truck, and I felt it through the shifter. It wasn't constant. Just a quick noise, then gone. After everything that's happened, I was on red alert. Turned off my stereo, and kept driving, listening. Found an off ramp, and pulled off to see if anything had froze, was leaking, etc. Nothing. So I jumped back on i25 and headed south. She did it again. Loud quick noise. At this point I prayed nothing seized up completely before I got to Colorado City. Made the noise two more times before I got to the exit. I called some relatives to come get me and parked the truck at the truck stop. 

 

I thought it could be the throwout bearing, but while I was waiting I kept hitting the clutch to see if it made noise. Nothing.

My thoughts are the carrier bearing I put on (we used a pipe and a hammer since I didn't have access to a press, and there's no driveline shops here, and it popped out of the rubber), or could it be the pilot bearing? It wasn't constant, off and on. Thoughts? 

[Dieselfuture]

When you drive things on with a hammer you taking a chance of cracking stuff especially a bearing. I would point my finger first at that.

[Ravewolf]

2 hours ago, Dieselfuture said:

When you drive things on with a hammer you taking a chance of cracking stuff especially a bearing. I would point my finger first at that.

I agree, I just wanted a second opinion. Thanks! 

[NIsaacs]

I would check the condition of the tranny and t-case oil. Pull the drain plug and let a dab out. Normally, if a carrier bearing goes bad it will seize and spin in the rubber cushion.

[Rotax3006]

Mine did something similar to this.  Turned out to be the pilot bearing in the flywheel.  I went to stop and the truck wanted to keep going.  Stepped on the brake and it made a poping/grinding sound.  Next stop light it wouldn't go into gear had to shut truck off then start it in gear (stuck on busy street).  Third time, made some more popping grinding and that was it. No more sounds or problems until the transmission went out then I discovered what that sound was.  I have put 3 of them in my truck. if it was this or a throwout bearing it should have happened when you shifted or tried to stop.

 

[Bullet]

I also had a similar experience but mine ended in a way that was obvious what the problem was.  I could hear and feel an occasional screech and shake.  Then one day a really loud screech and then sounded like the Tasmanian devil himself was underneath the hood doing his thing.  I shut the truck off and popped the hood...the fan was sitting on the mighty Cummins, the belt was in multiple pieces, the shroud was chewed to hell, the radiator was leaking substantially and the underside of the hood looked like a bear got ahold of it.  Turns out there's a large $150 bearing on the fan shaft that locked up, snapped the shaft and sent the fan for a crazy ride.  I was lucky to have only the damage that I had.

Edited March 8, 2019 by Bullet

[Ravewolf]

3 hours ago, Rotax3006 said:

Mine did something similar to this.  Turned out to be the pilot bearing in the flywheel.  I went to stop and the truck wanted to keep going.  Stepped on the brake and it made a poping/grinding sound.  Next stop light it wouldn't go into gear had to shut truck off then start it in gear (stuck on busy street).  Third time, made some more popping grinding and that was it. No more sounds or problems until the transmission went out then I discovered what that sound was.  I have put 3 of them in my truck. if it was this or a throwout bearing it should have happened when you shifted or tried to stop.

 

It's been hard to get into gear since I put the new transmission in. Lately whenever I go to put it in reverse or 2nd,it clunks. 

I really really don't want to pull the transmission again. But what must be done....

[Tractorman]

23 hours ago, Ravewolf said:

I was outside Pueblo when I heard what I can only describe as a bearing seizing. A loud squalling like noise that shook the truck, and I felt it through the shifter. It wasn't constant. Just a quick noise, then gone.

 

23 hours ago, Ravewolf said:

Made the noise two more times before I got to the exit.

 

More information would really help forum members to help you.  Can you provide any of the following information?

 

*  What gear were you in?

*  What was the road speed?

*  What was the engine rpm

*  Were you stopped, accelerating, decelerating?

*  Where did the sound come from?

*  Were the conditions the same each time it happened?

 

These are a few things that only you know that could help with diagnosis.

 

- John

 

[Ravewolf]

On 3/8/2019 at 3:11 PM, Tractorman said:

 

 

More information would really help forum members to help you.  Can you provide any of the following information?

 

*  What gear were you in?

*  What was the road speed?

*  What was the engine rpm

*  Were you stopped, accelerating, decelerating?

*  Where did the sound come from?

*  Were the conditions the same each time it happened?

 

These are a few things that only you know that could help with diagnosis.

 

- John

 

* 5th gear first time, other morning 4th gear

* 70mph first time, other morning 35 mph

* first time was about 2400 rpm, other morning was about 1400rpm (I think) 

*steady throttle both times

*sounded like it came from the transmission area, or front of transmission, not sure. My truck has no muffler so it drones, and is loud. Hard to tell exactly. 

*flat road, steady throttle, cruising both times, just different rates of speed. 

 

[Tractorman]

56 minutes ago, Ravewolf said:

* 5th gear first time, other morning 4th gear

* 70mph first time, other morning 35 mph

* first time was about 2400 rpm, other morning was about 1400rpm (I think) 

*steady throttle both times

*sounded like it came from the transmission area, or front of transmission, not sure. My truck has no muffler so it drones, and is loud. Hard to tell exactly. 

*flat road, steady throttle, cruising both times, just different rates of speed.

 

This is good information.  I don't think the problem lies in the following:

 

*  pilot bearing (since it is not in operation with clutch pedal released)

*  clutch release bearing ( if it made that kind of noise, I would think that you would hear other release bearing noises when operating the clutch pedal)

*  transmission (fourth gear on a five speed is the 1:1 gear, so the counter shaft is not loaded)

 

Things I would check:

 

*  carrier bearing - you can drive the truck for a bit and then stop and feel the bearing (carefully) for excessive heat.  As mentioned earlier, if the bearing is making that kind of noise it will usually spin the outer part of the bearing inside the rubber mount.

*  anything belt driven - remove the serpentine belt and check all pulleys.  Pay special attention to the fan pulley.

*  transfer case - if I recall, you have replaced it recently.  Check that the shift lever linkage is in proper position for each selection.

 

Just some thoughts,

 

- John