Chattering noise while coasting

Buddy Holly

Buddy Holly

Professional Amateur
Joined
Apr 6, 2014
Location
Mooresville
Hey guys. My yj developed a peculiar noise this morning on the way to class.

Specs: 95 yj, 2.5/ax5/np231 30 front open, 8.8 rear open, no SYE, odometer shows 158k

At speeds above 25 and below 65 I get a chattering noise when coasting in gear or in neutral. Sounds like it is coming from the transmission but the noise goes away when in 4hi. Both rear u-joints are brand new and the pinion angle is spot on. Front and rear diffs are well within spec and all fluids have recently been changed. The chatter changes with speed but not with rpm. The AX5 is a reman unit that has about 30k miles on it. It shifts great although it does whine some when under engine braking. Any ideas? I'm thinking it's chain slap- is there any way to tell without tearing into the transfer case? Thanks
 
8.8 pinion bearing bad.
 
transman731 said:
don't know where your located, but i would be glad to listen to it.
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You are welcome to ride along. I go to wake tech off 401 M-F if you are close by.

XJsavage said:
8.8 pinion bearing bad.
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I just regeared the 8.8. Literally less than 1000 miles on it.

GotWood said:
T/c chain

What do I win?
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I'm beginning to suspect the chain is the culprit. Front driveshaft has 1/8th-1/4 turn of play when I rotate by hand in 4wd. You win the old parts I replace :flipoff2:



Whats weird is yesterday it was fine and had no issues. Just started doing it this morning. T-case linkage is adjusted fine and I don't know how I could have bent the shift forks when I haven't used 4wd for the last three weeks? Two of those three weeks the jeep was sitting on jack stands waiting for parts to come in.
 
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Pull the chain and use the Extreme 4x4 chain check trick. Grab the chain with one hand (two fingers) and hold it horizontally to see if it frowns at you. The straighter it holds a horizontal line, the better the condition is.
 
XJsavage said:
Pull the chain and use the Extreme 4x4 chain check trick. Grab the chain with one hand (two fingers) and hold it horizontally to see if it frowns at you. The straighter it holds a horizontal line, the better the condition is.
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Whaaat?
 
Infamous1 said:
Whaaat?
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Yeah, I had to think about it a minute two. Remember, we're talking about a t-case chain, not a material handling chain. Hold it sideways so that it sticks straight out. A like new one would pretty much be horizontal, but a a worn out one will have a lot of sag.
 
Infamous1 said:
Oh original post said without removing chain so it befuddled me uno momento, thanks
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That's why I said pull the chain. Only way to truly tell.
 
XJsavage said:
That's why I said pull the chain. Only way to truly tell.
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That's what I feared. If I'm going to take it apart I might as well do the chain. It will wear out eventually anyways.


I guess I'll order some parts today. Anyone have a brand of preference for the chain? Alloy USA has one for $57, the rest are $120ish. Alloy's price seems too good to be true.
 
Buddy_Holly said:
That's what I feared. If I'm going to take it apart I might as well do the chain. It will wear out eventually anyways.


I guess I'll order some parts today. Anyone have a brand of preference for the chain? Alloy USA has one for $57, the rest are $120ish. Alloy's price seems too good to be true.
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Pay extra for an OEM Mopar one if you're going to keep it a while. Otherwise, get the cheapest thing you can because they all probably come from the same factory in China.
 
Like anything else on a vehicle that contains oil, be as clean and organized as possible throughout the whole process. I've seen people try to neanderthal t-cases back together in the driveway and things can go majorly wrong. Pay close attention to how everything came apart. I'm sure you already know.
 
XJsavage said:
Like anything else on a vehicle that contains oil, be as clean and organized as possible throughout the whole process. I've seen people try to neanderthal t-cases back together in the driveway and things can go majorly wrong. Pay close attention to how everything came apart. I'm sure you already know.
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Never had a 231 apart, but have rebuilt an np200 before. It seems pretty straight forward (famous last words). I will be doing the work with the t-case out of the jeep on my workbench. I'm pretty anal about stuff like this, so everything will get double checked and cleaned before reassembly just in case.

transman731 said:
i use morse/borg warner chains, they are the oem supplier.
call transtar (919-834-2581) ask for matt, they are located on west street in raleigh and will most likely have it in stock.
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Thanks Lee. I'll give them a call.
 
How about swinging by Lee's place and letting him drive it before you start tearing into it and buying parts?

Seems the most prudent course, anyway.
 
If he's still there I might be able to. Otherwise I can't until next week. Doesn't make sense that anything else would be making the noise. You can hear the chain slapping the inside of the case when you lay under it and rotate the front driveshaft in 4wd. Not sure what else it could be.
 
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I think the chain may be stretched o_O
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Chain and shift pads will be here tuesday. Now I have to clean everything and install new seals.
 
Are you going to install sye while you have it apart?
 
The sye is on the short list but cash is tight right now so it will have to wait. It's more hardcore if you don't run one :flipoff2:
 
Looks good to me! :lol:
 
Buddy_Holly said:
I think the chain may be stretched o_OView attachment 165660
Chain and shift pads will be here tuesday. Now I have to clean everything and install new seals.
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That doesn't look terrible (keep in mind the shafts can bend towards each other a little since the other half of the case is off). Are there any signs of rubbing on the case?
 
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