np 229 questions..HELP!!!

[alli3]

when driving in just everyday down the road 2wd- the t-case is making a high pitched grinding noise kind of like bad syncro rings in a standard transmission or trying to shift with out using the clutch-
and just letting your foot off the gas or hitting the brake to come to a slow stop
you can really hear it loudly-
she's an 84- np 229
i've looked in the search mode but we've gotten frustrated- its not when in 4wd- and most of the posts are about that-
please help
and please simple language!! jj knows what ya'll are talking about- i don't- still trying to learn-( and no disrespect but having a boyfriend explain it can get us into a mini war- ya know?... its more frustrating!!) tongue.gif

Thanks!
alli

[SpruceMoose]

hi alli! sorry, i dont have any info about your problem. i just saw you on the board and wanted to see how things were going with you. you know, the wheel incident, doctors, jobs, etc. oops, gotta run. the movie's back on.

seeya!

sm.

[ClarkGriswald]

If only in 2wheel. then could be the chaindrive gear spinning free on the main shaft.. possibley those bearings goin bad.. when in 4 its locked in and not freewheeling.. have ya tried draining and replacing the atf?

[alli3]

yea- the fluid is under 2500 miles - and jj took it for a drive in 4wd- its so much more quiet - the chain and bearings are probably the problem-what would ya'll suggest on how and where to go or do?

alli

[ibnfe]

May be the rear bearing. Pull the rear drive shaft and see if the rear t-case output yoke has any up and down play. It shouldn't have any.

[tuckers89GW]

Alli, I can hear the chain in my t/c running. doesn't matter if in 2wd or 4wd. I assume this is normal. I've put 20k miles like this. It has good fluid. Maybe I should have mine checked out? :confused:

[Snakeyes_Tx]

Alli, you and I have the vaccum actuated front axle. You'll recognize it as a standard Dana 44 with a funny looking diaphram thing on the top frontside of the cover. This thing is similar to today's TJ vacuum shifted axles.

Basically it has 3 metal lines going into it that is also shared with the Transfer-case. (God, I hate the 229 as much as I hated my 86's 228's now! I sure miss the 208 I put in my truck). Anyway, the axle uses a vacuum, via that dash switch that opens a valve to shift the trasfer-case into 4-hi and also doubles up by moving a "collar" onto the short-side axle shaft on the frotn axle to engage 4-wheel drive. You have to COMPLETELY stop to engage the front axle or you could grenade the collar with the noise you describe.

I suspect perhaps that one of the metal lines going into that front axles actuator has rusted and deteriorated away, or something bumped it abd cracked/poked a hole into it making it lose vaccum and moved that collar over in mid-roll at highway speeds or whatever speed you were going and was trashing the collar.

Easy way to find out is check the metal lines and to take the front pumpkin cover off and looking for metal chunks or other obvious damage.

[Millerluck]

Mine will make some wineing noise some times too. I wigel and push down on the 4lo lever and it's ok.

Maybe they need adjusting?

Next time it does it reach down and feel the mode lever and see if it feels like it is grinding at the same time you hear noise.


Worth a try.

Later

Larry Miller