Thanks for everyone's patience while I try to understand what's going on with my Raider.

I parked on a steep incline one day, facing uphill, and *immediately* after that I thought I heard the transmission making noise. Then I simply drove up a very steep incline (driveways both, oddly) and the very moment I drove away from it, the transmission made even more noise. A bearing even squealed a little bit! I've driven very little since.

My theory was that the rear output seal on the transmission was shot, and that it had poured out some 90w and was low. I have had the truck parked, and finally got time and energy to clean the garage to make room for the truck, replace the bulb in my work light, and get under it. I opened the filler and at first nothing came out, but it was cold. A moment later, 90w dripped out slowly. My understanding is that if it were low, none would have come out at all.

All that said, I have some questions that I'm hoping the local experts can shed some light on:

- Why, if the fluid level is still normal, did the transmission make more noise after being on those inclines?
- Is there *anything* I can do other than pull the transmission and replace all the bearings and seals?
- In accordance with the previous question, FastEddy has mentioned more than once running KM145's with ATF after flushing with diesel. Is it too late to do such a thing?
- Lastly, if all is lost, how much damage will I do by driving it about 20m per week? Or is any driving inadvisable at this point?

Thanks so much for any and all advice given

is it still making noise? It could of been a one off issue, or a number of possible causes like the throw out bearing.

Yep it is still happening, and I do not believe it to be the throwout bearing. The noise is there in any gear except fourth, and putting the clutch in does not change it.

The transmission in my Raider was previously in a Montero I crashed into a tree (RIP that Montero). The previous chassis had about 140K miles, and I put another 85K on in the Raider. Every now and then, the trans would make this horrible, screeching banshee noise while driving freeway lanes at 65 to 70 mph. I'd normally have Metallica or Megadeth blasting away, and moments passed before I separated the noise from the tunes. However, after pulling down from 5th to 4th gear, then off the road, the screeching would subside in direct relation to my deceleration. Upon the stop, I'd shut the engine off, restart and drive away with no noise...for as many as 10K miles, or as little as 5 miles. I never figured it out, but presume the trans will blow up when my daughter starts driving said transmission.

I'm definitely thinking bearings and lots of internal play...caused by 4K rpm dumps trying to get a wheelie in 4Lo, hauling loaded water trailers over hill and dale for work, etc. on the high scale of abuse.

Very interesting Russell. This one is making *constant* noise though. It just started at a steep incline, and got worse at the next one. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Based purely on mileage, I think Rx is dead on. More than likely bearings and the transmission will be on its way out soon enough. It may give you a good while of service before that though...

OK- so my last question is this: Will I destroy the transmission by continuing to drive while I wait for the stuff to rebuild? Is that likely to cause damage that a rebuild won't fix? I'm having a hard time sourcing another transmission for it for a reasonable price.

Maybe, maybe not. 20 miles/wk if it's necessary, I'd take a chance, but baby it, no full throttle pulls, drive all you can in 4th if it doesn't squeal there.

Just for kicks, take a close look at the dust cover at the rear of the rear output housing. Is it still snug on the tranny? It's just a press fit in the the housing, and if it's loose, could be rubbing on the driveshaft.

What does it do sitting still in neutral, clutch in and out?

Will you kill the tranny beyond rebuild ability? Tough to say. I, for example, drove mine till I literally couldn't get it into any gear at stop signs. When I dropped it the input shaft was wobbling so much it must have done some damage. I found a fist full of metal shaving in the pan and one of the synchro rings in a few pieces. SO short answer, you can kill it beyond repair... just depends.

Since I figured mine was un-rebuildable I bought a fully rebuild one from Kormex for what it would have cost locally to rebuild.

I've been working like crazy and haven't had time to put my thoughts together, but I have a moment, and the energy now- at the same time even!

Eddy: The transmission only makes noise when it's driving. Sitting still, in neutral, clutch in or out makes no more difference than it ever has. If it weren't for the fact that the bad noises stop in 4th, I'd think it was the transfer case (although we never hear of those dying like this).

What freaks me out about this is that lubrication is being lost each time I park or drive on an incline. It's the only thing that makes sense, and yet at the same time it makes no sense at all- why would the fluid level still be normal?

I'm thinking about dumping the fluid and replacing it with ATF to see if I get that lubrication back. It might be a waste of money though and I surely don't want to waste money I barely have. Any advisements on this? Thanks.

I am probably overthinking this, but that's what I tend to do on stuff like this. It just doesn't make sense to me, and that might be because I don't know enough about it. Hence all the questions.