| Author | Message | ||
     Steve Andrews (Sillybus) Member Username: Sillybus Post Number: 188 Registered: 08-2002 |
I just started hearing a sound coming from my rear end. It isn't a constant sound. Of course, I can only hear it when I am moving and the faster I go, the faster the rhythm of the noise. Its almost as if its a wheel but I pulled off the wheel and didn't see anything that would be rubbing or broke. Its kind of hard for me to describe the sound. At first, it sounded like I had a live squirrel in my gas tank. It really sounds like something is rubbing with every revolution of what I don't know. Could it be my rear diff or axle? If anybody has a list of things for me to check, I'd be grateful. | ||
| Paul T. Schram (Paulschram) Senior Member Username: Paulschram Post Number: 1229 Registered: 02-2002 |
Wasted Roto-flex? | ||
| Steve Andrews (Sillybus) Member Username: Sillybus Post Number: 189 Registered: 08-2002 |
I found this about the rotoflex: http://www.roverunited.com/tech/land-rover-rotoflex/land-rover-rotoflex.htm If it helps, I do have a 96 D1. I guess I should have mentioned that. That tech article seems to point in that direction. I'll look at the rotoflex this evening. Can I determine if its worn out without removing anything and is this something I can handle with very limited tools, skills and confidence? If I can pinpoint the exact cause of my problem, I can order the parts and maybe get into a garage armed with answers. I do not have a dealership within a convenient distance nor any independent garages that work on Rovers. There is a guy who might be willing to take a shot at it if I know the problem. Why don't any of you smart guys live near me? (Umm, because you are smart enough not to live near me. LOL) | ||
| Steve Andrews (Sillybus) Member Username: Sillybus Post Number: 190 Registered: 08-2002 |
I found Gill's tech article on swapping the rotoflex with a U-Joint because of problems he was having with a 2" lift. (Listen to me sounding like I know what I'm talking about). I do intend on doing a 2" lift myself someday. With that in mind, if it is the rotoflex, should I do the conversion now or just replace? Reference: http://www.discoweb.org/rotoconversion/index.htm | ||
| Glenn Guinto (Glenn) Senior Member Username: Glenn Post Number: 530 Registered: 02-2002 |
Hey Steve, Like Paul pointed out, it could be the rotoflex but just out of curiousity, you said constant sound, is it like a whining sound? When was the last time you changed your diff fluids? Glenn | ||
| Steve Andrews (Sillybus) Member Username: Sillybus Post Number: 191 Registered: 08-2002 |
Glenn, My diffs were changed about 5,000 miles ago and I don't appear to have any leaking (of the diff that is... up front is a different story LOL). Its not a whining sound. Here's a good way to explain the sound. It sounds like a tree branch scraping the side of your truck as you drive through a thicket. Its not a constant sound though... It is louder at slower speeds and each instance of it lasts longer at a slower speed. I'm sorry if I can't explain this really well. I am trying to learn mechanics as I go along here. | ||
| Blue (Bluegill) Senior Member Username: Bluegill Post Number: 2186 Registered: 02-2002 |
Inspect that roto. It'll be pretty apparent if it's failing. If you can see threads hanging out of the rubber, it's gone. I'd just do the conversion now if I were you. Down in the "For Sale" section I think someone is still parting out a '99 D1. See if you can pick up a u-jointed rear driveshaft and the associated 4-bolt pinion flange. Where do you live? | ||
| Steve Andrews (Sillybus) Member Username: Sillybus Post Number: 192 Registered: 08-2002 |
Easton, Maryland. Its on the Eastern Shore out near Nowheresville. | ||
| joshua Frances (Joshua) Member Username: Joshua Post Number: 146 Registered: 10-2002 |
I haeard the same sounds,, and my wheel bearings were in 100 different peices. stupidly, i drove on it for a few weeks, and ended up needing a new stub axle. check teh bearings, as well at the roto | ||
| Blue (Bluegill) Senior Member Username: Bluegill Post Number: 2188 Registered: 02-2002 |
you can see the threads hanging out and chafed rubber:  | ||
| D. Chapman (1hank1) Member Username: 1hank1 Post Number: 110 Registered: 02-2003 |
I had a peice of bailing twine stuck to my rear drive shaft once, it sounded like that. | ||
| Steve Andrews (Sillybus) Member Username: Sillybus Post Number: 193 Registered: 08-2002 |
As soon as SWMBO shows up with the disco (around 4pm EST), I'll let you know how it looks. | ||
| Kim S (Roverine) Senior Member Username: Roverine Post Number: 431 Registered: 03-2002 |
Here is a pic of a little more extreme (from my D2). Same thing Blue is talking about:  | ||
| gp (Garrett) Senior Member Username: Garrett Post Number: 1955 Registered: 10-2001 |
damn girl what did you do to that thing? you prop your rotoflex on a boulder and floor it? maybe capped a few .45 rounds into it? very impressive. going with new roto or U joint conversion? | ||
| Steve Andrews (Sillybus) Member Username: Sillybus Post Number: 195 Registered: 08-2002 |
Ok, I've taken a quick look at it. The rotoflex appears to be in decent shape. There are some small surface cracks but otherwise appears intact. I also looked really close at the shafts and around the wheels and didn't see any foreign objects. Bearing? The sound at low speeds is like a scratching sound but at highway speed, sounds like a break pad has not backed off of a slightly warped rotor, a dry rubbing cyclic sound, not constant. FWIW, I've already removed the wheels and looked at the breaks, rotors and calipers. And just so I can rule out another thing, how do I go about checking my diff oil for myself? | ||
| gp (Garrett) Senior Member Username: Garrett Post Number: 1960 Registered: 10-2001 |
how about a cracked/slightly busted U joint. mine was making that noise just last week. glad i caught it before all hell let loose. | ||
| Steve Andrews (Sillybus) Member Username: Sillybus Post Number: 196 Registered: 08-2002 |
Ok, I'll check out that U-joint. | ||
| gp (Garrett) Senior Member Username: Garrett Post Number: 1961 Registered: 10-2001 |
on your D1 you have two U joints on the front shaft and one on the rear. take your truck and put the parking brake on and block the wheels. put the CDL in N and you can spin the front shaft while you are under the truck. makes it easier to see the U joint in there. just look for any shiney parts in there that look broken. check that roto flex too again while under there really good. | ||
| joshua Frances (Joshua) Member Username: Joshua Post Number: 147 Registered: 10-2002 |
I think GP is on the rite track...Though I could bet if its not a driveline issue, its the bearings. at first mine sounded like a slight rubbing when i was moving. It got worse and worse, untill it sounded more like break pads on a caliper rubbing. eventtually, the wheel started to wobble.. Maybe you can have someone on a skateboard, rollerblades or run aling eachside of the truck while driving ( slow please) and see if you can localize the noise. Thats what i did | ||
| Zach Jaggers (Mountenn) New Member Username: Mountenn Post Number: 35 Registered: 03-2003 |
This may be a dumbass thing to say (and do, for that matter), but one time, a couple of us wanted to play a joke on a friend. We took one of those long, industrial-size zip ties and zipped it around the driveshaft so that whenever the vehicle was being driven, the tie would hit the bottom of the truck and make this horrible noise, but whe he stopped to check it out, the noise wouldn't be there. You already said that there were no foreign objects, but reading this thread brought back memories and I had to share. Good luck with it. Best- Zach | ||
| Steve Andrews (Sillybus) Member Username: Sillybus Post Number: 197 Registered: 08-2002 |
Zach - That's funny. I'll have to remember that one. Ok, I did the job beside the vehicle and to the best I can tell, its the passenger rear wheel. I'm digging up articles now for a weekend bearing replacement. I better get on overnighting something. | ||
| Blue (Bluegill) Senior Member Username: Bluegill Post Number: 2193 Registered: 02-2002 |
It could be a dragging pad and/or bad brake caliper like you mentioned previously. Any brake fluid leaking back there? Can you hear any high-pitched whine from bearings going bad? | ||
| Blue (Bluegill) Senior Member Username: Bluegill Post Number: 2195 Registered: 02-2002 |
and are you sure you still have pads? sounds like a you might be scraping metal pad base on warped rotor. | ||
| Steve Andrews (Sillybus) Member Username: Sillybus Post Number: 198 Registered: 08-2002 |
Yeah, I checked the pads out thoroughly. That was the first thing that came to mind. | ||
| Craig McLaughlin (Cmclaugh) New Member Username: Cmclaugh Post Number: 31 Registered: 06-2002 |
I had an ill fitting brake pad that slipped out of position on the left rear caliper just enough that its bottom edge was scraping against the rotor hat. Made a strange rubbing noise which got louder during right-hand turns. Upon closer inspection, I discovered the wheel bearings were loose which allowed the entire hub and rotor assemble to flex relative to the brake caliper. The extra flex under load was enough to allow the ill fitting pad to come in contact with the rotor hat. I adjusted the wheel bearings and replaced the pads on both rear wheels and have been trouble free since. | ||
| Steve Andrews (Sillybus) Member Username: Sillybus Post Number: 199 Registered: 08-2002 |
Latest. I was driving around the block to check it out again... to see if any turns made a difference... and that wheel seized up. I ended up poping it in reverse and giving it gas til it unstuck and limped home. | ||
| Bruce Potier (Bruce_flrc) New Member Username: Bruce_flrc Post Number: 19 Registered: 02-2003 |
Steve, when was the last time you repacked your wheel bearings? If it has a long time, should do these as well and get new seals. Also, you could have a dust guard rubbing against the rotor as well. This happened to me and the sound you have tried to describe rings true for me. Just a thought anyway. Bruce |
