Metallic driveshaft pinging

Hey guys,

I have a metallic ping coming from my driveshaft that is driving me up the wall. Truck is a mt '99 4x with the xtra cab.

It's this metallic "ting".... it sounds like the equivalent of putting cards in your bike spokes from the old days... but metallic. It's speed dependent - starts at about 10 mph and the increases in frequency as you go faster, also increases with acceleration. If you back off acceleration and coast (while still in gear) it decreases in intensity.

I've had the entire shaft out, replaced the rear U-joint, checked the others, which are good. The double cardan joint feels solid too, at least I can't feel any play.

The only other thought I had is the center bearing - mine has a bit of play, but seems like most guys have vibration issues when theirs go as opposed to noise.

I also stopped by a local rear diff shop. The guy there said it's definitely not a diff noise and agreed it was driveshaft related. We tried to recreate it on a lift as well, but no luck - will only do it under load.

Any ideas?

 

Got a rock riding somewhere? I've seen them make weird pinging noises.

 

Possible slightly loose flange at carrier bearing. When you grease drive shaft good does the noise change?

 

Mine made that sound, kind of like a chirping, only happened at certain speeds and under load. I put a good amount of WD40 on/in the carrier bearing and that solved it so you may want to give that a shot, free and easy

 

This is a good subject to discuss. I have the same problem with my truck. Can you post a picture of where the carrier bearing is located on the bottom of the truck please? Your solution is a very good fix that all 1st generation Tacoma owners need to know.

 

do a search in the first gen section. You'll find lots of info or google Tacoma carrier bearing.

 

I've greased all the zerks on the driveshaft, are there any greaseable spots on the carrier bearing?

 

Just at the CV joint, the carrier bearing is a sealed unit inside a rubber bushings. Right in the middle of your rear driveshaft. Can't miss it.

 

could be anything connected to the driveshaft. Output flange, loose u joint, loose carrier bearing, etc etc etc. Anything that's loose will make the whole driveshaft ring like a bell.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/driveshaft-ping-noise-5-speed.478050/

Besides listening with your ear and reproducing the noise while under there, it's going to be hard to pinpoint.

 

Yeah, like I said, driving me up the damn wall. I half thought about those little wireless microphone things to try and pinpoint the noise, but I've also heard they don't work well.

Thanks for the link.

 

All the ujoint's should be greaseable

 

Any luck yet?

 

it's definitely a bad bearing of some sort. thats the only thing that could make a "Card in spokes" sound in this situation. but a u joint doesn't spin like a bearing does. u joints only flex slightly to allow energy to transfer in a non linear direction. if you really do mean a "Card in spokes" sound, then the only thing that could do that is either the carrier or a differential/wheel/transmission/engine bearing.

 

Haven't gotten after it yet.... hopefully this weekend!

 

I think I know what is going on, I had this same issue. There are splines inside the carrier bearing where the shafts mate together. If these splines get any play in them, they will make the distinct sound you are referring to.

Pull the shaft apart and put some grease on the splines. If this is the issue, the sound will stop temporarily. I ended up having to replace the front portion of my driveshaft because the splines were ruined.

Edit: I am not talking about the slip yoke, there are actually splines within the carrier bearing. There is no grease fitting for these, so you will have to drop the drive shaft to get to them. I am willing to bet this is your issue.

 

Okay, it's coming back to me now... The splines are what interface the flange to the front portion of the driveshaft. You will have to remove the nut to pull the flange off, then you can access the splines. This is right next to the carrier bearing, not within as I mentioned in my prior post.

 

Wait, are you talking about the flange where it mounts to the transfer case, and not the carrier bearing? (I think it's the transfer case, going from memory here). I've had the driveshaft pulled before. Feel free to shoot me a PM too. Thanks!!

 

Just PM'd you Jacob. I marked up a pic with photoshop, but I don't know how to attached that stupid thing... It's the flange closest to the carrier bearing held with the four 14mm bolts. When you separate these, you will see a crushable nut that holds the flange to the driveshaft. Pull the flanged part off, the splines are just beneath.

 

Can you share with the thread? Just click "upload a file" and you can click "choose a file", from there you select the camera roll, then click ok once done uploading.

 

Let's try this... It shows to have attached. The vertical arrow indicates the flange you want to remove. This is the part that slips over the splines I am referring to. Sorry for the confusion on this, I don't always explain stuff the best lol