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Dana 18, Is This Bad Or Normal?

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Muzikp, Jul 4, 2020.

  1. Jul 4, 2020
    Muzikp

    Muzikp Active Member

    Sacramento Ca.
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    I have a lot of noise from my D18 and I don't like it. Also it gets hotter than it should at the rear bearing cap where the rear driveshaft attaches. I'm thinking something isn't right in there. Thoughts?

     
  2. Jul 4, 2020
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Was that in hi, low, or neutral?
    1st instinct says your drive gear off the Transmission is loose. The hi range is always in mesh and low is a sliding gear so it has a bit of wiggle naturally. If that is neutral I would be worried. Does it wail when at part throttle no load?
     
  3. Jul 4, 2020
    Twin2

    Twin2 not him 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    take the back (pto) and lower cover off . and do a look see
    as to getting hot . are you using a temp gun or hand
     
  4. Jul 4, 2020
    Muzikp

    Muzikp Active Member

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    That was in hi range 2 wheel drive. Using hand to determine its hot.
     
  5. Jul 4, 2020
    Muzikp

    Muzikp Active Member

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    More video, seems like there is a lot of play in this gear. Is that normal?

     
  6. Jul 4, 2020
    fhoehle

    fhoehle Sponsor

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    It's hard to say from the video alone, but it appears to have a fair amount of slop between the shaft and sliding gear. If the gear can move on the shaft as much as it appears, it will be noisier and run hotter than normal, as it struggles to maintain alignment with it's meshed gear. If I were using this on extended highway trips, I think a new gear and shaft would be in order, along with a quality rebuild kit. I would also recommend the Advance Adapters tapered bearing kit. I quieted my Dana 18 up considerably, but it was always far noisier than the Dana 20 that replaced it when I went to a centered rear.
     
    Ns0mniac likes this.
  7. Jul 4, 2020
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

    WA
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    Turn up the radio... Problem solved. (y)
     
  8. Jul 4, 2020
    Muzikp

    Muzikp Active Member

    Sacramento Ca.
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    I also have a tiny bit of slop in the middle gear (intermediate) on the shaft. I have a second 18 on the bench but it seems like that one has the same amount of slop in it. My concern is will it survive the Rubicon or not :whistle:
     
  9. Jul 4, 2020
    Muzikp

    Muzikp Active Member

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    Radio??? I bet when I join the quiters club and get a JK I'll have a radio :susp:
     
    Hellion, jjdebarros and Focker like this.
  10. Jul 4, 2020
    Muzikp

    Muzikp Active Member

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    It doesn't wail at all, it makes what sounds to me like dry bearing sounds and a bit of clanking, you can really hear it spinning and slopping a bit. It makes zero noise under load, only when coasting in gear or coasting with clutch in.
     
  11. Jul 4, 2020
    Twin2

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    I don't see where that low sliding gear would make the knocking noise in first video
    it's not engaged to another gear
    have you thought about maybe the bushing in main shaft for the front output shaft
     
    Mark T. and Keys5a like this.
  12. Jul 4, 2020
    Muzikp

    Muzikp Active Member

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    Yeh that makes sense that it wouldn't be the culprit since it's not engaged. There is definitely play in the mesh of the gears, I think that's where I'm getting the clunking sound in the first video. Would play in the mesh make noise while coasting in gear or while rolling with clutch in?
     
  13. Jul 4, 2020
    Muzikp

    Muzikp Active Member

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    I may put it back together and fill it with oil and try and get video with clear sound, maybe it's not Tcase I'm hearing :shrug:
     
  14. Jul 4, 2020
    '74Renegade

    '74Renegade Active Member

    Fair Oaks, CA
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    My shifter linkage rattles horribly in this situation. Did it make noise before your twin stick conversion?
     
  15. Jul 4, 2020
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Rubicon is all slow speed......:whistle: Do I need to throw in a spare D18 with twin stick setup for you to carry?????
     
  16. Jul 4, 2020
    Muzikp

    Muzikp Active Member

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    Yes it was starting to make noise before that, it's worse now. I tried holding the shifters and it's definitely not those.
     
  17. Jul 4, 2020
    Muzikp

    Muzikp Active Member

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    Yeh I'm not worried about the trail as much as I am the 2 hour drive from drop off to trail head.
     
  18. Jul 4, 2020
    Muzikp

    Muzikp Active Member

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    Maybe what JW60 said about the transmission drive gear is loose :shrug:
     
  19. Jul 4, 2020
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Try that.
    It would make sense that the rear output would be warmer if you are in 2wd. Have you thrown a dial indicator on the output to check endplay?
     
  20. Jul 5, 2020
    Muzikp

    Muzikp Active Member

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    Yes, I just had the tcase out when I did the new clutch fork, I checked all the bearings in the tcase and set end play when I put it back together. How warm do these things get? I drove it for 10 minutes 3rd and 4th gear most of it and it was hot but not burn me hot.
     
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