Transmission or drivetrain issue? Big problem, videos inside.

rdwhittaker · Post by **rdwhittaker** » 05 Nov 2016, 18:13

Hello everyone,

While it bums me out to make my introductory post asking for opinions I really need some outside perspective on this. I just had my first child and had a Subaru that was not to slowly dying on me. Long story short I picked up a 98 V70 XC parts beater (thought it might have been saveable but it isn't) and a 99 V70r with a solid service history at Volvo dealers and 180k.

I took my first mini trip and put 200 miles on it in the last 24 hours. I started hearing a slight clunking sound coming from the left front that went away under braking or turning right at 55 mph. Getting back into the city about 5 stop lights in the car did not want to move. Very sluggish and the transmission felt like it was slipping. I really feel like something else is going on, like something is binding up.

When I got home I connected my obd reader which reads tranny codes also and no codes stored, no abs light, no CEL. From there I put the car on jack stands and I can spin each wheel freely in neutral with the motor off. When running the wheels spin whilst in nuetral which is odd to me but maybe that's acceptable.

Transmission fluid level is good and doesn't look milky like coolant is getting in there. What seems odd is if you accelerate while the vehicle is elevated it is very difficult to get the brakes to bring the wheels to a stop. Making a nasty noise the entire time. I took some videos with my iPhone that I'll try to put up to illustrate the sound.

I really appreciate any insight as this has me utterly stumped. Thanks guys.
This is the video braking while on jackstands

This is a overall synopsis

updated: Here's a video I shot this morning with the wheel removed, I really feel like you can hear it coming from the transmission.
Updated again with more videos! Isolating the problem area.

And from underneath

Post by **abscate** » 06 Nov 2016, 04:17

Ugh..that's pretty nasty.

That really sounds like either differential or trans self destructing.

But....can you isolate the source? It could be brakes that are seriously stuck on one wheel.

I know it's freaky but go under while running with a Hose as a stethoscope and find where the house is coming from

beigg · Post by **beigg** » 06 Nov 2016, 05:46

I am unable to watch the videos.
Any pictures of the braking system (with wheel off) ?

If I had to guess, hub bearing is bad.

rdwhittaker · Post by **rdwhittaker** » 06 Nov 2016, 05:56

I can snap a couple pictures in a few hours when it's light out again. It is a very nasty noise. What's strange to me is that if it's transmission or differential why it makes such a sound bringing the wheels to a stop under braking.

That being said I can spin the wheels pretty freely by hand. I'll see if I have my stethoscope laying around somewhere still and go back under. It does seem to be coming from the transmission side up front.

rdwhittaker · Post by **rdwhittaker** » 06 Nov 2016, 08:40

beigg wrote:I am unable to watch the videos.
Any pictures of the braking system (with wheel off) ?

If I had to guess, hub bearing is bad.

Post by **scot850** » 06 Nov 2016, 11:38

At first I thought it may be a wheel binding on the suspension when suspension at full travel (the rear wheel rims I have on my 'R' bind on the rear sub-frame on full extension due to width and offset of 49mm).

But then I saw you running it without the wheels. Where the rears also removed?

The front LH axle gets loaded up when not under load so it is possible the CV joint is binding.

If I may suggest a methodology for checking:

1) Check both front calipers are free and not binding. You could remove the pads and try running again. But do check the rear wheels are not binding as I mentioned earlier.

2) Check the brake backing plates are not bent and rubbing on the rotors.

3) Hard to check but next would be one or both CV joints (inner and outer) on the side where the noise is.

4) May be a hub bearing but that tends to worsen on left/right turns when the affected bearing (the one on the outside of the turn) gets a higher loading.

5) If the trans is otherwise ok in operation and the fluid does not smell burnt, then I would tend to think this is ok.

6) The RH axle also has a carrier bearing that can go bad but not common.

7) Angle gear! - There is a sleeve between the transmission and the angle gear and the teeth an the sleeve can fail and cause a nasty noise.

By removing the prop-shaft if the noise is still there than you know the drivetrain from the front to back should be good. If the noise disappears or reduces then I'd suspect the angle gear unit is failing.

Neil.

beigg · Post by **beigg** » 06 Nov 2016, 11:59

rdwhittaker wrote:
beigg wrote:I am unable to watch the videos.
Any pictures of the braking system (with wheel off) ?

If I had to guess, hub bearing is bad.

beigg · Post by **beigg** » 06 Nov 2016, 12:02

Great pictures! Thank you!
Just to be certain, one last photo request.

Snap pics of the forward facing section of the caliper; Ensuring visibility of the open pocket area of the pads clamping the rotor.

rdwhittaker · Post by **rdwhittaker** » 06 Nov 2016, 13:04

I really appreciate the input guys. I'm sure a lot of you have been there before but this has me really stressed out having a newborn and all. After getting the car into the garage and on jackstands I was able to remove all the wheels and really see what's going on. As in the video you can see the passenger front barely moving and easy to stop by hand. Looking underneath it the shaft is spinning at a fraction of the speed as the female side for lack of a better term. This has to narrow it down! Seems to be an angle gear problem but the rears are spinning fine. Is there a collar or spline I can replace or something?

Post by **rspi** » 06 Nov 2016, 14:11

rdwhittaker wrote: Is there a collar or spline I can replace or something?

If the collar is worn, the gear teeth are likely damaged as well. You can pull the shaft out to see if that is the problem. Takes about 40 minutes.

These are usually damaged if all tire sizes are not the same.