Transfer box growl
You may have seen my other posts regarding the missing front prop. Well I think it might have to come off again.
I fitted my replacement front prop and just had a drive on my drive!
There is a growl every revolution for half of the revolution. I did read that you must run a G in SA if you dont have a front prop. Otherwise a bearing could fail.
Well I think that may have happened hence the growl.
I'm thinking this is too big a job for the old girl and we may have to return to 2WD and take the prop off. I've only been 4 yards in 4WD :-)
Be interested to hear some views!
Tony
Why was the prop-shaft removed in the first place? Do you know?
Maybe its because of the problem that you found?
from what you describe, it sound more than a bearing issue. This would would most likely cause vibration at speed, but not a growl when moving slowly. I'd raise the wheel slightly off the ground and rotate by hand to investigate further.
There are a few Gs around that were breakers and your best bet may be a replacement transfer case. Try this one and haggle.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-G-WAGEN-G-CLASS-G-WAGON-300-DIESEL-/271490114497?
or this one (although looks a bit rough):
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-G-Wagon-Wagen-300Gd-230-280-Ge-Transfer-Box-/221904694061?
or get one of these from Germany for £320:
The reason to place the transfer case in SA when operating without the prop-shaft is to ensure that the output shaft rotates, so that its gears can draw-up the oil for lubrication. However, a front-shaft, bearing failure is likely to manifest itself even when operating without the propshaft, when in SA, as the shaft will be rotating.
Try to check whether there is a difference between SA and S modes. you should be able to rotate the front shaft freely when in S. If not, the issue may be gear-shifter related.
As for the Why? Maybe I have experienced something similar.
Years ago, in another country, I had an old 280GE SWB which had an "out of balance" front prop shaft. So - I removed it - which did solve the vibration issue. Plainly, this is not a solve the underlying issue - though the symptoms of vibration went away.
Perhaps the bearings without any load (as they were supposed to bear), got unduly worn? Not to mention lost lube...
May be connected...
Possibly.
The transfer case has 4 main bearings, one for each output shaft.
But could also be that the vibration with the prop-shaft was due to a failing bearing in the first place. The test would be to see if, without the propshaft, it still makes the noise in SA, as the output shaft would then be rotating, but unloaded.
or lift one wheel on each axle off the ground and rotate to see what happens in S and SA (without diff-locks engaged)
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Panic over. I jacked up the front wheel and a friend turned it while I tracked the noise. There is a small piece of metal on the propshaft that was just catching the exhaust pipe!! I guess it's a balancing weight so just a bit of adjustment to the exhaust pipe needed.
The good news is that it all seems to work too, tried the 4WD mode briefly and no strange noises.
Thanks to all cheapest fix so far