Hello all I'm new to dodge but here is what I have. 98 Ram 4x4 with a 5.9 auto trans. the first tx case was bad due to the mode fork being roasted, I picked a case up at the bone yard and notice a howl from about 25-50 mph, and then it stops. not having any clunking, or other issues, just the howl.

here is what I have replaced.

front u joints
all the u joints on the drive shaft's
new tires (Michelin LTX AT2's)

The rest of the EXTENSIVE list of parts replaced don't seem relevant to this issue unless replacing the front fenders would cause this issue. :-)

I don't have any history on the used tx case, it shifts fine but the noise is there regardless of 2wd or 4wd.

my hope, and thought is that its the output shaft bearing.

Any whelp would be great.

 

Drop the rear driveshaft, pull the tailhousing off the tcase. Check and see if the snap ring is still there, on the output shaft.

Welcome to DF!

 

Thanks, that's what I was thinking. guess I know how my day is going to start.

 

Have fun.

 

The week got away from me and I just got to taking the tail cone off the tx case to see if the snap ring was still there, low and behold, IT WAS. So much for a quick fix, figured i was that far in might as well pull her apart. out of the truck and on the bench. Opened it up, clean as a whistle, nothing, nada zilch. the only odd thing was the magnetic washer that seemed to just appear on my clean bench from no where, is it possible that the washer was roaming around in the case making noise? I would think that it would have bound something up by this point. The other question is where does that washer live? the cast aluminum housing doesn't seem like it would hold a magnet washer very well. any thoughts would be appreciated.

all the bearings are smooth with little play, very little as far as shavings or debris on the washer. Gears are all clean and don't show signs of wear or mashing. the Mode fork and selector fork are in like new condition and the pads look new.

 

Chain stretched at all?

Washer probably just sits on the bottom of the case. You are correct in that in won't stick to aluminum.

 

No the chain is better then i've ever seen. So im wondering if in the maneuvering at the bone yard and then install if the washer made its way somewhere it shouldn't have. the noise is in both 2wd and 4wd.

 

Possibly..... Does it look chewed on at all?

Wonder if the noise isn't coming from somewhere else......

 

no visible brightness anywhere, the noise seemed to follow the change out of the tx case/ there are new u joints all around the only moving part that i would potentially think would be front hubs. when i changed the u joints they seemed ok the only other thing that could come to mind is if the drive shaft is to the left or right at the center bearing could that cause a growl.

 

I suppose, your only option at this point is to reassemble everything, top off fluids, and see what happens..... if you still have noise, see if you can't pinpoint where it is coming from......