I have a 2000 grand caravan with a 3.8l engine. My wife was recently on a trip and called me worried about a noise she started hearing. It is a grinding noise she said coming from the front of the car. It sounds like an oblong or out of shape piece is rubbing as it goes around and around and it corresponds with the speed of the car, not the engine. I assumed it was the brakes and told her not to worry. Now she is home I have had a chance to look at it and drive it and this is what I have found, the brakes are worn but not yet needing replaced, there is no uneven wear on the disks or pads. here is no play or noise when I turn or wiggle the disks on either side and all the cv boots are intact leading me to believe this is not an issue.

Now I am at a loss. I have the vehicle on jack stands so I decide to put it in gear and see if I can hear it. sure enough there it is, coming from the transmission. I place my hand on the housing and can feel the grinding so I have narrowed it to that point. now I'm really stumped as I know little to nothing about automatic transmissions.

Some things to note:
Vehicle has 200400+ miles on it
Transmission fluid is full but to my knowledge has never been changed
Vehicle runs and shifts fine even on highway(not in limp in mode)
Noise is not present at speeds less then 15mph
Noise is consistent meaning that turning or breaking causes no change.

I am truly stumped and this is our only vehicle which is a problem with 4 kids. I am truly grateful to anyone who can help, thank you in advance.

 

Do you see fluid leaking from the output seals ? (where the axles go into the trans) Betting the differential bearings are failing. It operates like a rear end of rear wheel drive cars but is contained in the transaxle. Going to be a unit probably. Especially if there is any damage to the case.

 

Ok so is just the bearing replaceable or is it Part of the unit? I am assuming I would have to remove the axle to get to it correct? Any other info on this issue?

Sorry no leaking fluid that I can see. Could definitely be a bearing though.

 

If it the wheel/axle bearing, you would buy the complete hub assy. You would need to repmove the brakes and rotor and the axle nut, not the drive axle.

 

No it's not at the wheel. It is at the transmission where the axle connects to it, I think. Either that or is is coming from the inside of the transmission.

 

Okay, then noise is coming from the diff bearing? The transmission rear cover would need to be removed and the diff too. You may want a shop to do this repair.

 

Do you know of any resources that could better explain the repair. I've been working on my own vehicles for 30 years and am confident in my abilities, but this is something I have yet to encounter. I will just start tearing into it if I have to but prefer to have as much info as I can before diving in.

 

You will need some special tools to remove the bearings and cups. I can send those tool numbers in the morning.

 

That would be great, I really appreciate your help.

 

Is this what we are talking about?
http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/se...tial%20Bearing