Is This Noise Wheel Bearings, Transfer Case, Or Something Else

bac078 · February 2, 2010

I have a 2005 gmc sierra z71 crew cab with 98k on it. Just started noticing a light noise as im coasting and slowing down. It sounds pretty much like i have real aggressive off road tires like a wha wha wha sound and I can kinda feel it on the pedals too. Not a grinding at all. Dont hear it til i go below 25 mph, but that may be because of wind noise, but I dont feel it in the pedals the faster I go. Doesnt get worse when turning but speaking of turning. In 4wd it seems to be whining more than it used to, and binds up under soft turns kinda like i was trying to make a hard turn, but its doing it on softer turns now. Just within the last month.

Any help on what this means?

Thank You for any help

lukeshupe · February 3, 2010

I have a 2005 gmc sierra z71 crew cab with 98k on it. Just started noticing a light noise as im coasting and slowing down. It sounds pretty much like i have real aggressive off road tires like a wha wha wha sound and I can kinda feel it on the pedals too. Not a grinding at all. Dont hear it til i go below 25 mph, but that may be because of wind noise, but I dont feel it in the pedals the faster I go. Doesnt get worse when turning but speaking of turning. In 4wd it seems to be whining more than it used to, and binds up under soft turns kinda like i was trying to make a hard turn, but its doing it on softer turns now. Just within the last month.

Any help on what this means?

Thank You for any help

Not that it really helps that much, but my just traded in 06 GMC Sierra CCSB Z71 was doing this exact thing. Didnt really try multiple things, but I did try wheel bearings (read: hub assembly) and that didnt make a difference. It had roughly 100k on it when it started and had 125k when I traded never really got worse but bugged the heck out of me. Good luck with it. But for real my truck did all you described above plus I had rearend noise going on too.

Lucas

bac078 · February 4, 2010

Well I think I figured out part of the problem. The wheel hub bearings going bad.

Anyone have a clue on my 4wd binding and grinding on non-sharp cornering?

kgrigsby · February 5, 2010

Well I think I figured out part of the problem. The wheel hub bearings going bad.

Anyone have a clue on my 4wd binding and grinding on non-sharp cornering?

Hi, Before you change out wheel bearings, on your front wheels drop your air pressure to around 25psi, test drive listen for change in noise, then up the air pressure to max, test drive check for noise. if you still have the same noise on both test drives you may have wheel bearing issues but I highly suspect cupping or irregular tire wear.The airing up and down will change the tire patch hitting the road. You may also want to rotate your backs to fronts and test drive.

Normally when a wheel bearing is starting to fail you will get a "Growling" noise that changes pitch as you drive through a corner as the bearing experiences side loads.

Back to the cupped or worn tires, I had a set of M/S LTs on roughly 60% remaining, after the first year they began that howling, thump, thump noise (especially cold), I would play with tire pressures, rotate them around this would help a bit but still not acceptable considering they were not a very aggressive tire. Turns out the maker discontinued them due to this issue. Ended up getting warranty, quiet as a caddy now!

So spend a little time troubleshooting as described above before you spend $ on new wheel bearings, 98,000k is not bad, I got 230,000k on my 1999 sierra before I changed mine. Good luck!

jrod332 · February 5, 2010

4wd issues could be a bad front differential or bad u joints in the front drive shaft. There are still moving parts in your front differential even when not in 4wd. If it gets low on fluid you could cause damage in your differential.

bac078 · February 5, 2010

I went ahead and changed the front diff and transfer case fluids today. It was dirty, but not low. I couldnt recreate the 4wd noise while it was on blocks or on snow covered roads and making turns. I did find that the hub bearings are my roaring noise though. Got a borrowed stethoscope and found it per directions from anither post. Now im curious about the 4wd noise. Is it just my truck being a gm groaner/grinder since it doesnt do it on a lift or snow covered roads?

4wd issues could be a bad front differential or bad u joints in the front drive shaft. There are still moving parts in your front differential even when not in 4wd. If it gets low on fluid you could cause damage in your differential.

kgrigsby · February 6, 2010

I went ahead and changed the front diff and transfer case fluids today. It was dirty, but not low. I couldnt recreate the 4wd noise while it was on blocks or on snow covered roads and making turns. I did find that the hub bearings are my roaring noise though. Got a borrowed stethoscope and found it per directions from anither post. Now im curious about the 4wd noise. Is it just my truck being a gm groaner/grinder since it doesnt do it on a lift or snow covered roads?

4wd issues could be a bad front differential or bad u joints in the front drive shaft. There are still moving parts in your front differential even when not in 4wd. If it gets low on fluid you could cause damage in your differential.

When you say the diff/transfer case oil was dirty, was it just discoloured or did you find it making metal, in other words did you find any metal chips on the drain plug or you will get grey coloured oil if something aluminum is failing. If none of these your diff is good. And if you still suspect a wheel bearing ( odds of both going bad at the same time...?) pull the front wheels off, pull brake calipers off and spin the rotors, if they feel rough or noisy change them if not they are good, this is the easy way. save your money for new tires.

bac078 · February 6, 2010

Diff was just dirty blue/black color. Trans case was dirty color with a just a little bit of metal shavings on the magnetic plug. The wheel bearing was making noise while lifted on blocks going in drive. Drivers side only. Kinda a long rrrrrrrr sound. Im sure thats one problem. My 4wd grinding and groaning.... only on wet/dry pavement. Didnt do it on snow, or wet grass, or on the lift going to the far left and right. It didnt ised to be that bad. If it doesnt do it on slippery/snowy ground do u think im ok?

I went ahead and changed the front diff and transfer case fluids today. It was dirty, but not low. I couldnt recreate the 4wd noise while it was on blocks or on snow covered roads and making turns. I did find that the hub bearings are my roaring noise though. Got a borrowed stethoscope and found it per directions from anither post. Now im curious about the 4wd noise. Is it just my truck being a gm groaner/grinder since it doesnt do it on a lift or snow covered roads?

4wd issues could be a bad front differential or bad u joints in the front drive shaft. There are still moving parts in your front differential even when not in 4wd. If it gets low on fluid you could cause damage in your differential.

When you say the diff/transfer case oil was dirty, was it just discoloured or did you find it making metal, in other words did you find any metal chips on the drain plug or you will get grey coloured oil if something aluminum is failing. If none of these your diff is good. And if you still suspect a wheel bearing ( odds of both going bad at the same time...?) pull the front wheels off, pull brake calipers off and spin the rotors, if they feel rough or noisy change them if not they are good, this is the easy way. save your money for new tires.

kgrigsby · February 6, 2010

Diff was just dirty blue/black color. Trans case was dirty color with a just a little bit of metal shavings on the magnetic plug. The wheel bearing was making noise while lifted on blocks going in drive. Drivers side only. Kinda a long rrrrrrrr sound. Im sure thats one problem. My 4wd grinding and groaning.... only on wet/dry pavement. Didnt do it on snow, or wet grass, or on the lift going to the far left and right. It didnt ised to be that bad. If it doesnt do it on slippery/snowy ground do u think im ok?

I went ahead and changed the front diff and transfer case fluids today. It was dirty, but not low. I couldnt recreate the 4wd noise while it was on blocks or on snow covered roads and making turns. I did find that the hub bearings are my roaring noise though. Got a borrowed stethoscope and found it per directions from anither post. Now im curious about the 4wd noise. Is it just my truck being a gm groaner/grinder since it doesnt do it on a lift or snow covered roads?

4wd issues could be a bad front differential or bad u joints in the front drive shaft. There are still moving parts in your front differential even when not in 4wd. If it gets low on fluid you could cause damage in your differential.

When you say the diff/transfer case oil was dirty, was it just discoloured or did you find it making metal, in other words did you find any metal chips on the drain plug or you will get grey coloured oil if something aluminum is failing. If none of these your diff is good. And if you still suspect a wheel bearing ( odds of both going bad at the same time...?) pull the front wheels off, pull brake calipers off and spin the rotors, if they feel rough or noisy change them if not they are good, this is the easy way. save your money for new tires.

Pull off the drivers side wheel, brake caliper and give the wheel a spin, it will be rough, low growling sound if it is bad, if still unsure do the same to the other side and compare.

If your not making metal in your diff or transfer case, the 4x4 system is only noisey on pavement I would not worry,

Check all your c/v boots for rips etc, if those are good there is not much else. I know it sounds too simple for a problem like this but lower and raise your air pressures in the front tires and test drive like I mentioned before, I had the same symtoms you are describing, cost $0.00, wheel bearings $150.00-300.00 a side and you will still have the noise, first rule of troubleshooting check the easy stuff first! good luck

bac078 · February 6, 2010

Did the pull off the drivers wheel and calipers. Its the bearings. Nothing on the passenger side. I had just a very slight amount of tiny metal flakes on my transfer case magnetic plug, not alot. I'm guessing that since the 4wd groan and grind doesnt happen when im in 4wd on snow or wet grass and only does it on dry/wet pavement that my 4wd is probably ok, UNLESS Someone here thinks otherwise.. The bearings were a 2nd noise that I had going on. Thanks for the help.

Pull off the drivers side wheel, brake caliper and give the wheel a spin, it will be rough, low growling sound if it is bad, if still unsure do the same to the other side and compare.

If your not making metal in your diff or transfer case, the 4x4 system is only noisey on pavement I would not worry,

Check all your c/v boots for rips etc, if those are good there is not much else. I know it sounds too simple for a problem like this but lower and raise your air pressures in the front tires and test drive like I mentioned before, I had the same symtoms you are describing, cost $0.00, wheel bearings $150.00-300.00 a side and you will still have the noise, first rule of troubleshooting check the easy stuff first! good luck

kgrigsby · February 7, 2010

Did the pull off the drivers wheel and calipers. Its the bearings. Nothing on the passenger side. I had just a very slight amount of tiny metal flakes on my transfer case magnetic plug, not alot. I'm guessing that since the 4wd groan and grind doesnt happen when im in 4wd on snow or wet grass and only does it on dry/wet pavement that my 4wd is probably ok, UNLESS Someone here thinks otherwise.. The bearings were a 2nd noise that I had going on. Thanks for the help.

Pull off the drivers side wheel, brake caliper and give the wheel a spin, it will be rough, low growling sound if it is bad, if still unsure do the same to the other side and compare.

If your not making metal in your diff or transfer case, the 4x4 system is only noisey on pavement I would not worry,

Check all your c/v boots for rips etc, if those are good there is not much else. I know it sounds too simple for a problem like this but lower and raise your air pressures in the front tires and test drive like I mentioned before, I had the same symtoms you are describing, cost $0.00, wheel bearings $150.00-300.00 a side and you will still have the noise, first rule of troubleshooting check the easy stuff first! good

Good to hear you found the problem!