So the old gal is in the shop because of a clunk in the drive train. The shop I take it to is the dealer who I bought the truck from and they are pretty good. So they tell me the rear u-joint is gone but covered under warranty because it was done only 5 months ago by them. The front upper right ball joint, pitman and idler arms were toast. I already knew that and had all ready purchased new idler and pitman arms to do myself. But the main reason I brought the truck in was I was getting a clunking/binding noise from the drive line looked after. I was thinking it was to do with the eather a u-joint or may be the t-case. The tech that looked at the truck said it was coming from the t-case and it would be cheaper for me to buy a rebuilt and have it installed than having him tear it apart and find the problem!!! So how hard is it to pull the t-case on these trucks and what are the comon problems that cause noise from the t-case? not sure what to do, truck is in the shop right now getting the u-joint replaced and waiting hear back from me on what else to do...

You don't even have it back with a new U-joint and the Xfer case is bad?????
Is the oil clean and up to level in it?

Ride and drive it first, before presuming the worst. Not all the Xfer cases wear out early, or develop the rub. I've got some at 200k miles and no clunk.

me thinks your being scammed..

both the u-joint and ball joint could cause a clunk..

fix those first,then see what you have...

I would make real sure there is something wrong with the transfer case before authorizing a replacement on what the tech said. Get it back and like heymccall said , check the oil level and test it out doing some 4x4'n. They usually will last a long time if they aren't hotrodded or ran out of oil. When you get it back also grab ahold of the driveshaft where it comes out of the transfer case and see if there is any up/down, side/to side movement. If worst comes to worst you can pull the transfer case and put in a rebuilt one in a afternoon, even if you have never done anything like that before. If the Universal Joint only lasted 5 months I'd think maybe they didn't do it right the first time.

I would also take the d-shaft out and grease the splines on the slip yoke if yours is a one piece. It's easy and cheap compared to the alternative. That clunk is normally when stopping or starting though. I use a synthetic marine prop shaft grease on mine since it lasts longer. It's more common with lifted trucks.

I checked the level of the fluid before I took it in and it was fine. Couldn't tell you what type of shape it was in though. My truck has 240,000kms and I was wondering if there was any type of maintenance that should be done on it besides fluid?
When I drive slow and get on and off the gas I can make it clunk. Sounds like its coming from the back half of the truck. Not sure if you can gather anything from that.
I told the dealer that I didn't want them to do anything to the truck other than the u-joint. Thanks for all the replies, we'll see how she goes tomorrow when I getter back.

Ok so I got my truck back from the shop today and it looks like there is a clunk coming from the t-case. The tech put it up on the lift for me and then had another guy run the truck. When he put the truck in gear and tapped the throttle we could defiantly hear a clunking clacking noise coming from the t-case :( The slip yoke hasn't been lubed so that will be the next step.

Ok so I got my truck back from the shop today and it looks like there is a clunk coming from the t-case. The tech put it up on the lift for me and then had another guy run the truck. When he put the truck in gear and tapped the throttle we could defiantly hear a clunking clacking noise coming from the t-case :( The slip yoke hasn't been lubed so that will be the next step.


the fact they were willing to show you is good.sorry it is making noises.

will have to let the T-case professionals come on and tell you how you should fix it..

It only takes 1 hour to take out and install a new transfer case we just had to do it on my buddies truck pump rub

some sort of clunk in the drivetrain seems to be pretty common, more so on a 4WD. I've dealt with it and my dealer just shows me several "tech bulletins" that exist on the issue.

They seem to indicate that removing the shaft and greasing the splines is the usual fix, but it has to be repeated every so often.

I have 225K on my 02 and started getting the infamous driveline clunk about 3K ago. Began hearing a metal to metal rub and determined the T-case was bad. When I got ready to drop the case I pulled the drain plug and about a T-spoon full of oil ran out. Thought this was odd since I seviced it not long ago. Guess it deveoped the pin hole in the case. The drive line clunk went away with the new case (reman form GM 3 yr warranty $1375), and I didn't grease the yoke splines. I think maybe the splines rely on the case oil to lubricate and when it gets low it binds. Just my $.02

I finally got the splines greased and it did help with the audible noise. But there is still a feeling of slack in the drive train. Also I have vibration at 115km/hr and up till I let off. The vibration is at its worst around 130km/hr. I also changed the tcase fluid, it was in ugly shape. The fluid was a dark brownish red with metal flake. I plan on changing it again in about a month to see if it keeps up with the metal flakes. Does that vibration point at anything I should check?

I was having the same thing and just had my truck brought to the house with a wrecker 178K working miles and I did get the pump rub. However the damage was done already but didnt show its head till 10k miles later. Mine threw some codes but i think they are from the sensor on the output shaft. Glad to hear it doesnt take to look to fix, and I might as well upgrade the pump rub while its out.

I was having the same thing and just had my truck brought to the house with a wrecker 178K working miles and I did get the pump rub. However the damage was done already but didnt show its head till 10k miles later. Mine threw some codes but i think they are from the sensor on the output shaft. Glad to hear it doesnt take to look to fix, and I might as well upgrade the pump rub while its out.

Just went and bought the anti pump rub kit from GM. Part number 89059653, cost $12.00 GM knows they have a problem and will not warranty it but they will sell you the part to solve the problem.:mad:

formulabill,

GM's revised clip Part number 8905653 did not solve the pump problem. See post #10 of the following thread:

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=166438&highlight=Riverside+Gear

That post shows pictures of the four clips available. GM's final cure starting in the 2008 year model was to change the case housing material from magnesium to aluminum bcause neither GM's clips prevented the pumb from rubbing through the case. However the other two items shown absolutely cures the pump problem.

If you rely on the the revised GM clip, you will only delay onset of the problem by having a new inadequite clip. If you plan to keep your truck, this revised clip is not a cure!

If my vibration is coming from the transfer case what do you think would be causing it?

If my vibration is coming from the transfer case what do you think would be causing it?

Toasted inards.

I finally got the splines greased and it did help with the audible noise. But there is still a feeling of slack in the drive train. Also I have vibration at 115km/hr and up till I let off. The vibration is at its worst around 130km/hr. I also changed the tcase fluid, it was in ugly shape. The fluid was a dark brownish red with metal flake. I plan on changing it again in about a month to see if it keeps up with the metal flakes. Does that vibration point at anything I should check?

If your fluid was 'ugly' burnt looking with metal flakes then more than likely you have run it while low on fluid and damaged the internals. How much fluid was there when you drained it?

It was full, I checked it about 3 weeks ago before I took it into the shop. So your thinking the tcase needs a rebuild then?

Mine is doing the same thing but only in 4x4, ever so often makes a chucking noise. Took it to the shop and they said it may be the chain and wrote it up for later warrenty work. But I found and pin hole from the pump rub. So are the new/remain tcase have the problem fixed already or do you still have to buy the Pump Rub kit?

Mine is doing the same thing but only in 4x4, ever so often makes a chucking noise. Took it to the shop and they said it may be the chain and wrote it up for later warrenty work. But I found and pin hole from the pump rub. So are the new/remain tcase have the problem fixed already or do you still have to buy the Pump Rub kit?


From what I've heard here the new GM clip isn't any better than the old one. I would fix it before I installed it if it was me.

From what I've heard here the new GM clip isn't any better than the old one. I would fix it before I installed it if it was me.


2nd that. Especially if you plan on putting some miles on it before upgrading. My 03 lasted 190K miles before rubbing a hole in case and leaking, but no noise and no "slap". But I've heard of trucks with alot less miles, and some with more. Basically, it's cheap insurance to change that clip!

Does any one know if a newer transfer case from an 06 or 07 will fit in an 03? A guy I work with has a "guy" who has a t case that he said is in good shape that he would sell. But its out of a 06 or 07 truck my work buddy couldn't remember what it was.