Torque Tube Noise?

topchop

topchop

Senior Member
Ok, I’m back. About 5 months ago, I asked for help with a bent rear 1947 passenger hub/drum. Thanks to all you FordBarners, along with great information, I was able to locate and procure a real good replacement. Installed it, and cured the wobbly wheel problem.
Had back surgery in January, so that put me out of commission for a while. Now, it’s time to get back at it.
Latest problem, and I am looking for help and direction here, is with a noise in the torque tube area. (Just a note, before I had back surgery, I replaced the Smithy mufflers that had holes in them with new ones. I have to admit, I loved the exhaust tone, but it’s a lot quieter). When walking along side the car (Hey, slow, of course), one can hear a rattle, like a ball bearing bouncing back in forth in tin can. With the quieter mufflers, I can now hear it from inside the car. Spent a day trying to isolate the noise. Here are my observations:


(ala Old Henry, here is a video) Noise at 8 seconds into video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qoPVm7eUYY&feature=youtu.be


  • Can hear it the loudest from the drivers side, more than the passenger side
  • The frequency correlates with the rotation of the driveshaft, not the wheel
  • On jack stands, in gear, running, I do not hear it (either side)
  • Cannot duplicate the noise when turning the rear wheels by hand, forward or reverse
  • Can’t hear the noise in reverse under power.
  • Coasting in reverse down driveway, can’t hear it
  • Driving up driveway under power or coasting, noise is there
  • Tapped the T/T with a screwdriver to see if I get the same noise, but not exactly the same noise

Sounds to me like a u-joint or coupler problem, from searching on the FB.

I would really like to find someone locally (Rochester, NY) to repair, since my back ain’t what it used to be. But, am willing to attempt if it wasn’t too intense.
Would the rear end have to be removed completely to get at the driveshaft components?
Any help would be greatly appreciated

Jim
 
Jim, it does sound like the universal joint. Too heavy a clunk to be the coupler pin. Try loading the U joint with grease to confirm. If it still sounds the same, then load up the zerk at the center of the torque tube to check for the driveshaft bearing. These would not fix the prtoblem, but should confirm or deny the location.
By the way, your video has it at 2 seconds, not 8 seconds.
 
Alan, the clunk at 2 seconds is me, grabbing first gear LOL. The sound at 8 seconds (you might have to turn vol up to really hear) is there. Might have to record it again. Will do the grease thing and see if any difference. Thanks.

but I can tell you that the whole rear axle does have to come off to access the drive line. No fun.:(
Click to expand...
Old Henry, Thanks for reply on difficulty factor. I was afraid of that. BTW, I enjoy your travel videos, and admire you driving the heck out of the Ford.

Jim
 
I've heard that clunk before on my car. It usually goes away with time. Grease to the U-joint (Corn Head Grease or some other 0 grade grease) and to the middle bearing (regular grease) may help as has been suggested. Be sure and check your differential and transmission oil too. Could be coming from there.

Personally, I wouldn't be dismantling my drive line for it. But, then, I have a lot of fun in spite of imperfections in my car that others may not enjoy so much.:)
 
One other thought: It sounds a little like the sound I had in first gear when I had a broken tooth for that gear in the transmission. Didn't affect operation at all. Just a noise. If the noise is consistent and only when pulling forward in a lower gear that may be it. Still wouldn't tear into it for such. But, that's just old tolerant me. :)
 
If the coupler pin is loose and ratting around, then your coupler is probably loose as a goose and will eventually cause more damage the longer you drive it like that.

I understand your back problems all too well, but could you could hire a gas jockey kid and sit there to instruct him?
 
I'm with Alan on this one. Pack some grease in the two places suggested. One at a time of course and listen for a difference. If there is a difference, you have at least located the issue.
If a U-joint, center bearing or rear coupler is making noise that you can hear this easy, it is time to fix it.
The only way the pin breaks on the coupler is if the spline(s) is worn. If that's the case, you will all too soon have much bigger issues.
Best to fix these before you go out on the road.
 
Solved! We have success.
Did everything that was suggested. Fluids OK in banjo and ******.
Uni joint and carrier bearing lubed. E-brake OK.
Noise still there.
Frustrated and confused.:(
Just then a lawn service guy came along trying to sell me lawn care.
I said, what the hell, walk alongside the car and tell me where the noise is coming from. Passenger side, quiet.
He pointed to the drivers rear wheel and said "right here", pointing to the trim ring.
Crap! Took the trim ring off, and no noise.
I'm not making this up.

Note to self...try the easy things first.:)

Will be posting some pictures later of the new interior and chrome.

Thanks everyone.

JIM
 
A few pics. Ignore the firewood under the gas tank.
 

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topchop said:
Note to self...try the easy things first.:)

JIM
Click to expand...
OK. Gotta tell mine.
Two week trip from Utah to the east in 15 passenger van with 8 kids, wife, her sister, her mother and me (yeah, 12 total). As we got closer to Boston started hearing this repetitive click somewhere. Sounded like it was coming from the back. Was real annoying. Sat there driving for miles and miles thinking about what it could be. Finally decided it had to be one or both rear wheel bearings. So, when we got to Boston, instead of sight seeing I pulled into a garage and told them what I thought. Without any further attempts to diagnose they tore into the rear wheels for several hours to replace the bearings while the kids played at the cemetery across the street. When they were finally done we were excited to get back on the road to sight see. Didn't get a block from the garage when the click was STILL THERE! Returned to the garage when they finally did what you did - walked along the side of the van while I drove slowly. The click was in the FRONT BRAKES! Gave the disc brakes a squirt of something and the click was GONE! Only had time to drive through Boston without stopping to see anything we'd planned to see by then.:(

Just one more of my very sad "diagnose before you prescribe" stories.
 
Check your lug nuts. I had a front wheel trim ring that was noisy. It was due to the wheel flexing due to loose nuts.

Mart.
 
topchop said:
Solved! We have success.
Did everything that was suggested. Fluids OK in banjo and ******.
Uni joint and carrier bearing lubed. E-brake OK.
Noise still there.
Frustrated and confused.:(
Just then a lawn service guy came along trying to sell me lawn care.
I said, what the hell, walk alongside the car and tell me where the noise is coming from. Passenger side, quiet.
He pointed to the drivers rear wheel and said "right here", pointing to the trim ring.
Crap! Took the trim ring off, and no noise.
I'm not making this up.

Note to self...try the easy things first.:)

Will be posting some pictures later of the new interior and chrome.

Thanks everyone.

JIM
Click to expand...

Spider hubcaps can do that too.
I've had that scare.
 
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