Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Strange metal sound in the Transfer box

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    Strange metal sound in the Transfer box

    Yesterday i noticed a strange sound in the front axles when I was driving up a snowy hill.

    When I gave the car some more throttle it sounded like some metal was slipping somewhere.

    Any ideas? I cant believe that the splines in the hub or diff could slip like that.. ?
    Last edited by xibriz; 04-09-2012, 09:48 PM.

    #2
    perhaps the splines between the xfer case and front ds? it is possible that one of your axles could have popped out of the diff. likely option #1 one i guess.
    sigpic
    Gigitty Gigitty!!!!

    88 cabrio becoming alpina b6 3.5s transplanted s62
    92 Mtech 2 cabrio alpinweiss 770 code
    88 325ix coupe manual lachsilber/cardinal
    88 325ix coupe manual diamondschwartz/natur
    87 e30 m3 for parts lachsilber/cardinal(serial number 7)
    12 135i M sport cabrio grey/black

    Comment


      #3
      - Wrong -
      Last edited by xibriz; 04-09-2012, 11:24 AM.

      Comment


        #4
        Never mind my previous post.

        I have checked ut out some more, and the sound seems to come from the transfer box.

        Could it be the chain?

        I dont dare to drive with it any more becuase the sound gets rapidly worse. Can I take the shaft to the front diff out and drive safe?

        Has anyone a DIY on taking the transfer box out?

        What else can be broken in the transfer box?

        Comment


          #5
          Could it be the splines on the front axle going into the xfer case?

          Will there be any fluid coming out if I try to remove the front driveshaft to inspect?
          Last edited by xibriz; 04-10-2012, 01:21 AM.

          Comment


            #6
            yes, no.

            when's the last time you inspected and lubricated the driveshaft?
            Build thread

            Bimmerlabs

            Comment


              #7
              Never :o

              I've had the car for 1,5 year.

              A few months ago I told a shop to change all the oil on the car, but I cant remember if they took the transfer case. Maybe just the engine, gearbox and diffs.

              Comment


                #8
                it's probably stripped.

                the only way to know for sure, is to pull the front driveshaft and look.. :(
                Build thread

                Bimmerlabs

                Comment


                  #9
                  Ok, I'll try to pull it out today.

                  If it's stripped, I guess I need to replace the shaft and the gear inside the transfer case?

                  Comment


                    #10
                    had a similar problem a couple wks ago. I thought the noise was coming from the transfer case. It was in fact stripped splines. Spinning the front wheels on the lift, I can replicate the sound.

                    www.instagram.com/snwmble
                    #snwmble

                    Current:
                    '05 BMW M3 - Silver Grey/Imola Red
                    '90 BMW 325iX - Sterling Silver/Houndstooth sport(5-speed converted)
                    '15 Mini Countryman - Blazing Red/Carbon Black

                    Past:
                    '01 Audi Allroad - Light Silver/Platinum Saber Black
                    '88 BMW 325iX - Diamond Schwarz/Silver sport *Sold*
                    '01.5 1.8TQ - Brilliant Black/Nogaro Alcantara ...after 8.5yrs, *Sold* =(
                    '90 BMW 325i - Schwarz/Tan sport *Sold*
                    '89 BMW 325ix - Diamond Schwarz/Black sport *Sold*

                    Comment


                      #11
                      I have seen you video earlier today in search for information :)

                      I have similar slack, but not as bad as you. I think I have a early stage, but it gets worse fast.

                      Is it easy to take the xfer case out? Remove the exhaust, both drive shafts and then it practically drops out?

                      Comment


                        #12
                        I don't know the fault tolerance on this.. but to me it seems OK.

                        There was very little grease in there.. I almost did not get dirty. Could that cause such problems?

                        But something is slipping... whats next.. the chain?
                        Attached Files

                        Comment


                          #13
                          looks a bit worn. Mine looked similar, and was stripped enough to make a loud metal clanking noise audible from a block away. One way I tested to see if it was in fact bad, was i did the 'jack test' with the back wheels up in the air. I put the car in gear, and slowly tried to move the car. Good enough, the sound was 10xs LOUDER & the front wheels weren't hooking. My transfer case was just rebuilt, so I knew it wasn't that.

                          Did you wiggle that shaft when it was inserted in the transfer case to see how much play there was? You should be able to see if there is....with the plastic cover removed.
                          www.instagram.com/snwmble
                          #snwmble

                          Current:
                          '05 BMW M3 - Silver Grey/Imola Red
                          '90 BMW 325iX - Sterling Silver/Houndstooth sport(5-speed converted)
                          '15 Mini Countryman - Blazing Red/Carbon Black

                          Past:
                          '01 Audi Allroad - Light Silver/Platinum Saber Black
                          '88 BMW 325iX - Diamond Schwarz/Silver sport *Sold*
                          '01.5 1.8TQ - Brilliant Black/Nogaro Alcantara ...after 8.5yrs, *Sold* =(
                          '90 BMW 325i - Schwarz/Tan sport *Sold*
                          '89 BMW 325ix - Diamond Schwarz/Black sport *Sold*

                          Comment


                            #14
                            splines look OK. you can get the proper grease from a BMW motorcycle dealer. dunno if a BMW car dealer will have it (they're usually clueless on older BMWs). you definitely want it greased or it won't look like that for very long. :)

                            How about the front diff? it's a more likely failure point than the transfercase chain, although that is possible if it's been run dry for many miles. you could try draining the fluids and see if there's any metal shavings. drain the transfercase and see how much is in there - it doesn't hold much, about half a liter or so.
                            Build thread

                            Bimmerlabs

                            Comment


                              #15
                              First the good news: I've figured it out.

                              The bad news: The transfer case did not contain a drop of oil.
                              When i put my finger up there, i could feel the chain.. and it war really loose.

                              Shit.. maybe I can get a used one.. the parts are really expensive. Are all transfer cases the same? Sedan/touring, manual/automatic?

                              If i try to rebuild my case.. witch parts to I need? Only the chain and the two axles?


                              And where could all the oil have gone? Is there I slightly possibility that the shop I had the car in drained the oil and forgot to refill?
                              I did ask them to change "all the oil", but on my receipt it only says that they changed on the engine, transmission and diffs.
                              Here is the oil they used:

                              Syntrax limited slip 75w (2 liter)
                              Mobil 1 ESP 5w30 (4,20 liter)
                              Mobil ATF 320 (3 liter)
                              Last edited by xibriz; 04-10-2012, 11:30 AM.

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X