New Guy.... HELP please

[mmoore]

HI all,

So quick introduction:

2006 2500 4x4 Duramax, bone-stock. Wife-driven. Used as a combo kiddy-wagon / Barrel Horse tow-rig. Use is close to 60/40 Around Town/Towing Horsetrailer. Have about 150K on it. Religious on oilchanges (5-7K miles, Rotella Syn), and do a trans-service about every other oilchange. Now for the problem...

Wife has been complaining of clunking noises and very intermittent "Shift Range Inhibited" codes that clear off by restarting truck. So I drove it... it has a very distinct clunking when the driveline goes under/out of load... By that I mean, if at a dead stop when you take your foot off the brake, the driveline clunks. It will shift smooth through all gears. Then when coming to a complete stop, there is a clunk again. Took it into a local indie, he thinks there is a problem with the xfer case. Not the problem. He pulls the driveshaft, and the output shaft is almost stripped.

So, my first question is "what caused this"? From what I can tell, this should be a heat-hardened piece of metal. Second question: should I just replace the part and move on? He (indie) found a used tranny with 88K on it, that he can swap for about the same costs as the labor on the rebuild. I think that pulling and replacing this part is well outside of my capabilities.

Thanks to anyone for help,

Matt

 

[duramaxJoe08]

was the slip yolk ever greased? this part is always moving with your suspention more so when pulling the trailer

 

[RKTMech]

You say "tranny" when you mean Transfer case? I have never seen a slip yoke wear out an output shaft like you describe and if it did you should have been experiencing noise or issues for quite some time. How to fix is all dependent on your budget!

 

[blk smoke lb7]

Thats odd.I would have bet the farm it was the t case.the used trans with 88k sounds good but you have to idea how it was treated.Could also get some cash for your old trans possibly.I would also get the pump rub kit installed in the t case while its outto ensure that sont give you a headach down the road.

 

[mmoore]

Thats odd.I would have bet the farm it was the t case.the used trans with 88k sounds good but you have to idea how it was treated.Could also get some cash for your old trans possibly

That is where I am... How was it treated?? This reason is leading me towards repair vice the used unit.

As for the extra cash.. they want $500 for core charge. I did think about keeping my unit to sell. I am thinking I can get a bit more than $500 for it.

 

[mmoore]

You say "tranny" when you mean Transfer case? I have never seen a slip yoke wear out an output shaft like you describe and if it did you should have been experiencing noise or issues for quite some time. How to fix is all dependent on your budget!

I said tranny, being that the damaged part is the output shaft on the tranny. I thought it was the Transfer case. Right now, I wish it was the T Case.

I have talked to 2 different Dealers. They said the same thing as you "I have never seen an output shaft strip".

As for the noise, this rig is wife-driven.. Who knows what she has been hearing?? :rant:

You made the budget comment. Would you care to give me a couple of ideas, based on cost? I haven't decided what my budget is, yet. The truck is paid for, and I really don't want to get into trading it in.

M

 

[mmoore]

was the slip yolk ever greased? this part is always moving with your suspention more so when pulling the trailer

No. Is this something that should have been done? I honestly have never thought about greasing slip-yokes.

 

[duramaxJoe08]

No. Is this something that should have been done? I honestly have never thought about greasing slip-yokes.

I miss understood you i thought it was t case output... but yes you will wear out the tcase shaft if it gets dry.. as far as trans output shaft i will tell you it takes alot of power and poor driving to break one i would make sure your bearings are ok in your t case before you put it back on or on a different trans

 

[Mike L.]

I've seen this before. I bet the the snout coming out of the transfer case has bad splines as well. Need to change them both.

 

[mmoore]

I've seen this before. I bet the the snout coming out of the transfer case has bad splines as well. Need to change them both.

Mike, are you saying that the splines on one, could have eaten the others? Do you think this is it? Meaning, replace them, and move on?

I am concerned of some odd, internal issue that is being overlooked in the name of a manufacturing QC issue.

M