Universal joint questions??? Am I on the right track???

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

My money is still on the centre bearing.

 

[SavVYute]

My money is still on the centre bearing.

You’re probably right, but what do you do?
If I was running that shop I’d probably do the same and quote a service on the tranny first too. That way it eliminates one possibility and covers some of the labour costs putting it up on a hoist and chasing the noise.
And besides they’re no dills…. They probably know it’s the centre bearing. But they’re not going to say “it sounds like the centre bearing” because they know I’d race off and change it myself. LOL

Come to think of it, when he said “it could be diff or auto transmission problems” that could have been mind games too.
That way when/if I get a bill for under a grand instead of thousands I’ll be thinking how lucky I was it was only a centre bearing and go away happy!

 

[rambunctious]

If all the above fails to correct the problem you might want to replace your engine and gearbox mounts with genuine mounts from Holden, not Repco, not Bursons or any one else for that matter, just Holden genuine mounts.

You may just solve the problem. It worked for me and it is after all a VY so it is getting on in years even though the Ks are not high.

 

[SavVYute]

If all the above fails to correct the problem you might want to replace your engine and gearbox mounts with genuine mounts from Holden, not Repco, not Bursons or any one else for that matter, just Holden genuine mounts.

You may just solve the problem. It worked for me and it is after all a VY so it is getting on in years even though the Ks are not high.

Thanks Rambunctious. I’ll keep the mounts in mind if the specialists draw a blank next week, but I’m hoping they won’t.
Yeah she’s getting on (8yrs old in April) but I’m not giving up on the old girl.
She’s a great ute and never given me any trouble.
The noise she’s making is probably made by most Holden utes out there as they get a bit older - and their owners just put up with it. I probably would too if it wasn’t at the frequency it is.
If you quietly - at a medium pitch went to yourself….. “nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn” it gives you an idea what the noise is like. It goes right through your head. :hmmm:
Maybe because the rest of the car is so quiet that it’s obvious.

 

[vysute]

i'll solve you're problem, 3 inch cat back no mufflers! wont be hearing a thing after that haha! let us know how u go with the tranny specialists mate!

 

[SavVYute]

OK. Here’s the update.
Collected the ute from the tranny specialists with a bill for $437.
For this they did a full flush of the auto transmission with new filter, pan gasket and ‘oil stabilizer’
It included a ‘complimentary power steering service’ ???
That was about $150 more than I was expecting, but was a full flush, not a standard service.
Car didn’t feel any different and the noise is still there.

The noise they say is diff related and have again said it will cost a further $1500 to track down and fix and the ute would be off the road for 3 days. Could be even more $$$ depending on what they find.
At this stage I got the funny feeling I might be getting fleeced… so I paid my bill, said I’ll let them know and took the Commodore home.

 

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Replace your centre bearing.

 

[monkeys437]

You got screwed... I'd only pay what I was quoted and never take it back there again. Call up a driveshaft shop and see what a centre bearing replacement costs or get them to inspect it for you

 

[SavVYute]

Replace your centre bearing.

Hello again Not-An-Abba-Fan. Could the noise of a dry centre bearing possibly be mistaken for a diff problem noise by two mechanics?
I only ask this because I've just got back from another mechanic's today. He's been recommended by a few friends of mine and this is what happened.
Took it for a quick drive and did all the usual tests, swerving side to side, accelerating, cruising, decelerating etc.
While all this is happening he's telling me it's hard to diagnose noises like this. “Don’t know…could be any number of things”. But then at the end of the test coming back he says “yeah… I think it’s the diff”… but he didn’t sound really sure.
His advice was to keep driving it. If it gets worse it will be easier to pick where the noise is coming from. Also to add a $15 tube of Nulon G70 to the diff oil and see if it makes a difference.
I’m off to do that right now.

 

[VR38]

$437 to service a 4L60e #### me dead I must open a trans shop.