Awful Noise!!

[mikeH]

So I took the truck on it's longest drive (more than 30-40 minutes) yesterday which was a little over an 1 1/4 hours (bout 65-70mph the whole way). After parking for around 35-40 minutes, we hopped back in and went to mc d's (block or two away) before hopping back on the highway. When I was turning into a parking spot was the first time I heard this awful noise that sounded like maybe an extremely dry old strut, but it happened so brief and fast I didn't even get to really consider the sound to figure out what it was. We went in and ate and came back to get on to our return highway. Within the first 5 minutes and maybe once every 15-20 minutes of driving back, we heard the metal on metal screeching sound. I kept pulling over as soon as I could after hearing it to see if it was internal or maybe the brakes. I couldn't tell anything odd. The third stop (about 15 minutes from home) I popped the hood and I could smell the faintest bit of metal smell, almost like really hot brakes, but they didn't seem overly hot and I couldn't pinpoint where the smell was coming from. So today I changed the tranny fluid, about 3.2 quarts of black sludge came out, and nearly 4 went in until it leaked out of the fill hole. Then checking the oil, I found it almost 3/4 or a qt low, so I topped that off also. I took it for a short slow (up to 40mph) drive, it shifted MUCH smoother, BUT I heard the damn sound again!! It's in no certain gears, no certain speed, an not when the clutch is in any position. sparratic and only lasts 2-4 seconds.DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY IDEAS ON WHAT THIS COULD BE??!! Btw my truck JUST hit 20,700 miles and I've put the last 800 of them on since I bought it. Any help is appreciated! Thank you!!!

 

[JRSVIPR]

Wheel bearing,Pully,Belt tensioner,You could start there until someone with knowledge chimes in.

 

[mikeH]

Well I've replaced a few wheel bearings in other vehicles, and I've always thought those to be more of a low humm, and have them be responsive to turning one way or another, and on my short drive today, I was pullin the wheel left and right repeatedly and I couldn't get the sound. :-/

 

[JRSVIPR]

Well I've replaced more than a few wheel bearings, and I've always thought those to be more of a low humm, and have them be responsive to turning one way or another, and on my short drive today, I was pullin the wheel left and right repeatedly and I couldn't get the sound. :-/

Check that,Same here.I had the belt tensioner freeze up,But that shredded the belt also.

 

[scar426]

I'd say wheel bearing. I had similar issues, couldn't figure out what the heck, until wheel fell off going 60 towing my crossfire on a busy two lane highwau in the middle of the night just 20 or 30 yds from the Ohio River. CHECK them WHEEL BEARINGS.

 

[VENOMOUS1 RACING]

Likely a idler pulley or belt tensioner pulley freezing up. Check your PS fluid as well. Hopefully it's not the fan trying to come on with little fluid in reservoir?

 

[mikeH]

Well I drove it in to work today and I heard the noise just once about 5 mins into my 30 min journey, and that was it. Also, the weather has been about the same, no more dry or humid than any other day. All fluids look good. It has got to be a pulley. The wheels do not get hot as they would after such a drive in the case of it being a wheel bearing.

 

[Slitherbeast]

I also noticed a noise which sounded like metal to metal scraping. I drove it for a while, i only make short trips lately, then decided to remove the belt last night to see which pulley bearing i was gonna replace. I noticed the pulleys turned very smoothy and the oiginal belt was in very good shape. I then noticed the lower engine pulley misalignment! My damper has backed out about a quarter of an inch! Check you lower pulley alignment! There were some trucks that had a problem with the dampers coming loose and damaging the end of the crank!

 

[VPRPWRD]

I also noticed a noise which sounded like metal to metal scraping. I drove it for a while, i only make short trips lately, then decided to remove the belt last night to see which pulley bearing i was gonna replace. I noticed the pulleys turned very smoothy and the oiginal belt was in very good shape. I then noticed the lower engine pulley misalignment! My damper has backed out about a quarter of an inch! Check you lower pulley alignment! There were some trucks that had a problem with the dampers coming loose and damaging the end of the crank!

My first truck did that. Didn't damage the crank thankfully, just put a new pulley, bolt and belt on.

 

[Slitherbeast]

think i caught it in time! Just need to find some time! My wife will be out of hospital soon. i'll see what damage if any this weekend. thanx for the response!

 

[ICPREY]

Buy a pin kit from Roe for the crank pulley. It's a common issue on the Vipers and Viper trucks.