Is This Drivetrain Noise Normal?

[amg280]

Since it has stopped raining for more than a day, I was actually able to drive with my windows down. While accelerating from a dead stop, everytime I give it gas, I hear tinging noises from what appears to be the tranny/transfer case area. It sounds like someone is chucking small pebbles at my exhaust. When I let off the gas it does the same thing, almost symbolic of something "flexing". Its very noticable at low speeds. Its really kind of annoying and loud.

 

When the truck was in for service last time, I mentioned it to the service manager. He said there transmission specialist listened and said the noises were "normal". I think they are feeding me a line of BS.

 

The noise sounds like a new exhaust cooling off after driving it hard...ting...ting.... It will do like 10 of those when I give it gas, and vice versa when I left off the gas.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Thanks!

[pm26]

Is your truck a crew cab, extended cab, or regular cab? I have not noticed anything like this on my truck. I would say that this is not normal - at least not on a crew cab. I have the usual popping noises in the exhaust when I turn off the engine.

 

What you are describing can be possibly caused by proximity of the exhaust to some chassis cross member, or something in the exhaust is bent and it contacts the chassis when you load up the drivetrain (i,e, give it gas).

 

It could be the heat shield over your catalytic converter flexing and hitting something, or it could be just loose. I would check it first.

 

About a year ago I was test driving a new regular cab HD 2500 work truck. It too had strange metal pinging and rattling noises coming from the exhaust when accelerating. It sounded like a rattling heat shield too.

[98 Z71 SLT]

Since it has stopped raining for more than a day, I was actually able to drive with my windows down. While accelerating from a dead stop, everytime I give it gas, I hear tinging noises from what appears to be the tranny/transfer case area. It sounds like someone is chucking small pebbles at my exhaust. When I let off the gas it does the same thing, almost symbolic of something "flexing". Its very noticable at low speeds. Its really kind of annoying and loud.

 

When the truck was in for service last time, I mentioned it to the service manager. He said there transmission specialist listened and said the noises were "normal". I think they are feeding me a line of BS.

 

The noise sounds like a new exhaust cooling off after driving it hard...ting...ting.... It will do like 10 of those when I give it gas, and vice versa when I left off the gas.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Thanks!

 

you have a bad u-joint on the rear driveshaft...

[gnet158]

It sounds like someone is chucking small pebbles at my exhaust.

 

The noise sounds like a new exhaust cooling off after driving it hard...ting...ting.... It will do like 10 of those when I give it gas, and vice versa when I left off the gas.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Thanks!

 

 

Mine dose the same thing, but it's a crew cab. My 02 Ext cab did it too but not as loud. What engine to you have iron or aluminum? Mines Iron, the reason I ask it I'm trying to determine if it's an engine thing.

 

Can you see if your truck does this, can you feel the engine heat when you park your truck and get out? I can and I don't remember this on my 02.

[Silverado96]

The noise you describe is classic ujoint failure. Probably the one closest to the transmission. Be sure to check your carrier while you are there!

[amg280]

The noise you describe is classic ujoint failure. Probably the one closest to the transmission. Be sure to check your carrier while you are there!

 

 

I never thought about the u-joints! that does sound like it would be it. Is this a hard job? Expensive? My truck is under warranty but I cringe everytime I go to the dealer. There is never a problem in there eyes...

[pm26]

A bad U joint would most likely have other symptoms too, like vibration and loud clunk when shifting into gear and out. If this truck's driveshaft has a center support carrier bearing, if the rubber bearing bushing gets torn, there will be vibration, much like a tire out of balance. I had this happen on a Nissan Pickup.

I am not completely ruling out a bad U joint, but his truck is a low mileage truck and at that mileage a U joint failure would not be likely.

 

I recall that some of these trucks had a clunk in the drivetrain due to rear yoke splines machining tolerances being somewhat sloppy. GM recommended greasing these yokes with heavy grease and then I believe they started nickel plating the yokes to eliminate the problem. But this is not the problem he is describing.

[amg280]

A bad U joint would most likely have other symptoms too, like vibration and loud clunk when shifting into gear and out. If this truck's driveshaft has a center support carrier bearing, if the rubber bearing bushing gets torn, there will be vibration, much like a tire out of balance. I had this happen on a Nissan Pickup.

I am not completely ruling out a bad U joint, but his truck is a low mileage truck and at that mileage a U joint failure would not be likely.

 

I recall that some of these trucks had a clunk in the drivetrain due to rear yoke splines machining tolerances being somewhat sloppy. GM recommended greasing these yokes with heavy grease and then I believe they started nickel plating the yokes to eliminate the problem. But this is not the problem he is describing.

 

I had a bad u-joint on a BMW I used to have, and it made somewhat of the same noise, almost a creaking when loaded up. My truck does have low miles, but you never know, the previous owner could have really abused the drivetrain. I do have a clunk going from 2-3 and then back 3-2. That was my original complaint to the dealer. I suspect the u-joint. I have to go to the dealer next week, so I will bring the SA for a ride around the parking lot and demand that be fixed.

 

Thanks for all the help!