The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Noise in drivetrain

Got a new one for me. 52 1/2 ton, older torque tube rear end has Huck type brakes. Earlier I put in a new Okie bushing along with a new U-joint and bushings. Was how I found out the torque tube is an early version. Drove it for almost a year. Worked great. I have some slop in the drive shaft but I believed that was from old age and wear. No noise from the gears and no vibration. Took it out on an errand, less than 10 miles round trip, Started clunking. Was no different with the clutch in or out. Was not related to the engine RPM. I thought, I had left something loose inside the ball. Home at a very slow speed. No change in the clunk. It did not get worse and it did not go away. So I put it up on stands, slid under and took the ball apart. All looked good. Straps are snug, bushings look good and transmission lube was every where. Drained a bit when the ball slid back. Maybe a 1/2 cup or so. Slid the ball back closed it up and sat scratching my head. Started it up and listened as it idled in neutral. No noise. The driver side wheel was free wheeling just fine. I stopped it with my boot, expected the passenger side to spin as well. It did not. When I tried to turn it it would clunk a bit and stick. Shut the engine off, pulled the drum, and gear lube on every thing. Dropped the derby pulled the axle, changed the brakes, put in a new seal. Pulled the other drum and it got new shoes as well. Put it all back together. Started the truck, wheels were free wheeling and, no noise. Patted my self on the back set it down threw the dog in and went for a test spin. The clunk is back. But different. Now it clunks with the clutch engaged and quits when it is released.????Never had this before. Any ideas?

Which year Okie bushing did you install?

1940-1950 (this is probably the "early version" you refer to)
or
1951-1954

I turned the 1951-1954 down until it fit in the tube. I did not turn down the "shoulder" I did test fit it on the shaft, it fit. And it worked fine to stop the vibration that made me change the bushing in the first place.

Have we run out of ideas for this? I still have no idea what this noise is. Any help? Any advise? Thanks in advance

I had a noise on my 53 with the clutch, would disappear when the clutch pedal was depressed. Turned out that the PO installed the disc in backwards.

That is one thing I have not changed. But the trans was loosened and shifted around a bit, So maybe a good place to look.

What do you mean that you have some slop in the driveshaft?

There is wear on the axle splines, some looseness in the spider gears, adds up to a shaft that can be moved back and forth a bit. A little more in the Tranny and it has a noticeable bit of loose rocking back and forth. Twist only. No shake up and down and no movement if pushed and pulled.