Another whining on deceleration thread (details inside)

[fizzlebottom]

Vitals:

• 2005 TJ Sport 4.0L, runs great
• 155k miles
• NSG370 6-spd (PO had trans shop rebuild @ 122k miles)
• Clutch replaced when trans was rebuilt
• Stock NV231 transfer case
• No lift, 17in JK wheels
• Everything except wheels is stock

Symptom 1
I noticed a few days ago that I have a whine that occurs when I take my foot off the gas while moving. It changes pitch according to road speed and not RPM. If I push the clutch in, it goes away. If I put it in neutral, it goes away. As soon as I put my foot on the gas, it goes away. I have not tested anything with 4wd engaged. The whine sounds like tire noise, but slightly louder.

Symptom 2
A day or two later, something else started. On occasion, I would get a slight but noticeable clunk either when:

• Shifting from a dead stop to 1st (without having accelerated yet) -or-
• Coming to a dead stop, remaining in 1st, and then accelerating.

I have not tested to see if the same clunk appears when shifting from neutral to 2nd at a stop, so that's on my list for later today.

I'm really hoping that these two symptoms are coming from the same problem and that it isn't the transmission. I'd have to start planning for an AX15 replacement and that just doesn't make me smile too much right now.

I have not yet checked the trans fluid cause I'm a d*ckhead, so I'll do that this weekend. Other threads I've read mention differentials. I've got fluid changes for both on my list, so I may have to move those up. Same with transfer case.

Is there anything else that I'm not covering? Thoughts, red flags, etc.?

 

[fizzlebottom]

Finally had time to get the driveshaft out. The pinion nut wasn't even finger tight. I'm going to open the differential tomorrow and I fully expect to see just bits and pieces of ring and pinion gears.

 

[AndyG]

Finally had time to get the driveshaft out. The pinion nut wasn't even finger tight. I'm going to open the differential tomorrow and I fully expect to see just bits and pieces of ring and pinion gears.

Been there, tighten there nut and it will likely be ok if it hasn't grenaded . But the pinion is toast now

 

[fizzlebottom]

Been there, tighten there nut and it will likely be ok if it hasn't grenaded . But the pinion is toast now

Oh, I'm well past being able to just tighten the nut. The whining turned into a very concerning grinding and clunking. I'm going to open it later this morning to see what parts survived, if any.

 

[fizzlebottom]

I can just buff this out. Nothing to see here. Everything is fine.

 

[LilHammer97]

@fizzlebottom Not the one to revive old threads like this but what did your noise sound like? Im having a current strange whine sound during acceleration only.

 

[Jamison C]

This happened on my last jeep. Whine during deceleration, noise gone when under load or in neutral. Pinion nut was loose and the inside of the diff looked similar (not as dramatic as pictured here).

 

[fizzlebottom]

@fizzlebottom Not the one to revive old threads like this but what did your noise sound like? Im having a current strange whine sound during acceleration only.

For like two days, the noise was just a whine, like an electric motor unloading. But soon that whine became a 100% alarming grind when I slowed down below 5mph or so (when the pinion gear was contacting the carrier).

If you're getting noise on acceleration only, maybe check all your ujoints and bearings for any noticable wear.