Drivetrain "Clink" Noise

[mcgillicuddy1992]

I know there are quite a few forums for this problem but almost all of them I have seen describe slightly different symptoms or the trucks in question are different than mine. I have a 2005 Chevy 2500HD 6.0L 4x4 Ext. Cab and just starting today my truck started making a clink noise when I change from park to reverse or reverse to drive. A lot of the forums that I have read claim It's caused by slip yoke or the rear end going bad but the noise is definitely coming from near the front end of the drive shaft. It sounds like it's right under the drivers seat not near the back. I have also seen in a lot of forums that there is some vibration and or noise when stopping and accelerating but the truck drives very smoothly except for a little shake if I press the gas again after coasting for a bit. I crawled under the truck to check for any play and the back was solid but the front has some movement in it and makes a clicking noise when it moves but I can't tell if it's from the U-joint or from the shaft going into the transfer case. Some people have even suggested the transfer case may need to be replaced. Could it be low fluid in the transfer case? Or hopefully just a u-joint?

[Formulabruce]

1. Check the fluid level in that transfer case and do it soon.. they will run low for a long time before failure ruins the case.. Good luck

[mcgillicuddy1992]

Will check the fluid after work tomorrow! I should be able to feel the fluid through the fill hole right? If the fluid is fine should I drop the drive shaft and grease the slip yoke? It looks like that's usually the number one problem.

[davester]

maybe block the rear wheels or even get them up on jackstands, then have someone shift in and out of gear while you crawl around underneath listening for where the sound is coming from. you should get a much better idea of what's causing the sound than from inside the cab.

[mcgillicuddy1992]

Well the problem seems to have magically disappeared and it hasn't done it in the last few days. Probably still going to grease the slip yoke and change transfer case fluid just in case.

[n4hmr]

I'l bet it ain't disappeared - it's just hidin'. If you have enough (GOOD) jackstands, get both ends up off the ground and do the 4x4 bit also. You may want to apply the emergency brakes (and/or) regular brakes - lightly - to simuate the torque loads of driving off.

[mcgillicuddy1992]

You were right it's back!!! It seems to do it only after I have been driving around for a good while. Normal driving like going to work the transmission gets a up to around 150ish according to my gauge and it's quiet. If I beat up on it gets to around 170 and when I go to park it makes the clink noise. Still only does it when changing gears. I don't notice any change in the performance and no shaking or vibration when taking off even if I get on it pretty hard from a stop. I'm still willing to bet it's the slip yoke from all the stuff I have been reading and I'm going to grease it once I get a day off. But I will take your advice and jack it up, check the fluid, check the ujoints, and see if I can't pinpoint the location.

[TX_AT]

I'm taking mine to the dealership tomorrow for a similar noise I hear in the front below the drivers seat/pedal area.

 

It was at the dealer for something different when I told them about the noise, they couldn't duplicate so I took them out with me and they quickly realized what I was talking about. They are going to raise it and locate where the noise is coming from.

 

Now the bad, the mechanic said if the noise comes from anything that was meesed with from the lift, it would not be covered. I told him the noise has been there since I bought the truck but that didn't matter, go figure.

 

Its really not that bad/loud but I would like to know where its coming from before it gets worse.