Driveline help!

golftango · Fri Dec 23, 2016 10:51 pm

My Kizashi has what I'd call a drive-line "grinding/humming" between 60-70mph. It's not present at lower or higher speeds, just in that small speed envelope. It's more pronounced when in a slow left turn (think highway curves). And it's not really audible, it's felt through the steering wheel as a very light "grinding" which resonates every few seconds like something in revolutions. This happens in any gear and is not the tires (rotated, replaced, still happens.) Now some backstory to help pinpoint it, some members may be familiar with the story.

22K miles I noticed a leak on the bottom of motor between transmission and engine. Dealer said the oil pan gasket failed. They dropped sub frame, pulled pass side axle and dropped pan and sloppy added a new bead of silicone gasket.

25K miles, leak still there. Dealer said it was the axle seal which was damaged when they removed it for the oil pan repair. Replaced pass side axle seal @ the transmission.

26K miles, still leaking. This time dealer says it's the input shaft seal. So they pulled the transmission and replaced the seal which, of course, was the leak all along. This is when the above issue started happening. So I can't tell what trigger this. axles, transmissions, something else that was disassembled, etc. The front brake pads are newer and I checked to make sure all the guide pins were lubed and in good nic. In any regards, brakes would be more audible.

So at 36K miles I decided to bite the bullet and bring it back in (this was 11/08). I was fearing another CF like the above. They test drove it, couldn't replicate it. Drove with tech, he couldn't hear/feel anything. They examined the wheel bearings, brakes, etc. I was about to cough up $57 for the diagnostic fee when the tech came from the shop and said they had it on the lift and took a stethoscope to it. He could hear the bearing on the pass side half shaft was making noise so they ordered a new inner drive shaft ($500 part) and I was on my way.

Following week, part arrived and I brought it back in. While I was waiting for my car the tech called me to the bay while shaking his head. He found the outer pass CV axle was chewed up at the threads from the previous tech's work and needed a new shaft and nut ($850 part.) Plus the part was on back order for a month and he advised me I shouldn't be driving the car. I was handed the keys to a 2017 Tacoma and was sent on my way. This was on 12/02.

Got the call yesterday my car was ready (12/22). I picked up the car, jumped on the highway, &%@$ grinding/humming is still there.

What the hell could this be?! Driver side axle? I really do not want to bring it back...it pains me. What else should they, or I, be looking at?

Woodie · Sat Dec 24, 2016 12:10 pm

More pronounce in left hand turns makes me think right front wheel bearing. That's when there's more weight on that wheel.

golftango · Sat Dec 24, 2016 3:13 pm

Woodie wrote:More pronounce in left hand turns makes me think right front wheel bearing. That's when there's more weight on that wheel.

I had someone on another forum say they had the same issue with their VW and it turned out it was the final drive bearing in the transmission.

Sat Dec 24, 2016 5:29 pm

I don't know what to tell you at this point. Multiple monkeys have assaulted your car for numerous 'reasons' and it's anyone's guess as to what they damaged, took apart wrong, put back together wrong, you name it. A simple oil leak 'repair' turns into this disaster. I feel your pain and would be hesitant to want to return as well, but what choice do you have? Take it somewhere else and you're going to being paying dearly to have someone else diagnose problems most likely caused by others. Moreover, they could inject further problems as well.

Mon Dec 26, 2016 2:51 am

I agree with Woodie that it sounds like a front wheel bearing. It doesn't do it when you're at lower speeds when you jiggle the steering wheel to either side?

Mon Dec 26, 2016 3:31 pm

Was any of this present before it was touched initially? Unless we know what, exactly, they took apart, how it was done and for what reasons, "it sounds like...." diagnosis via the internet is going to be futile I'm afraid. driveline problems are difficult enough to chase when you are actually have hands-on the car.

WESHOOT2 · Mon Dec 26, 2016 5:30 pm

Small consolation: At least they're willing to throw parts at it......

golftango · Tue Dec 27, 2016 2:31 am

KuroNekko wrote:I agree with Woodie that it sounds like a front wheel bearing. It doesn't do it when you're at lower speeds when you jiggle the steering wheel to either side?

No. Only between 60-70ish and it's not audible, only felt in the steering wheel.

Tue Dec 27, 2016 4:31 pm

Question is, how long are they going to be willing to keep throwing parts, and labor, at it? and to what further detriment to the car?

To put driveline diag into perspective, that POS 04 Heep of mine ended up with a bad transfer case assembly that only demonstrated very specific symptoms at very low speeds, with extremely light throttle, essentially coasting, transitioning from loaded driveline to unloaded as opposed to during acceleration, or running on inclines/declines. VERY difficult to repeat in order to demonstrate to tech after their repeated inability to acknowledge anything was wrong. Even then I had to actually repeat it a few times to convince them there was a problem with the driveline. I thought it to be emanating from the Tcase. Once the tech acknowledged yeah, there's a problem (ding, they pay), I told them they could keep swapping out major assemblies until the problem was gone but I'd start with the tcase if it were me.

golftango · Tue Dec 27, 2016 8:42 pm

Ronzuki wrote:Question is, how long are they going to be willing to keep throwing parts, and labor, at it? and to what further detriment to the car?

To put driveline diag into perspective, that POS 04 Heep of mine ended up with a bad transfer case assembly that only demonstrated very specific symptoms at very low speeds, with extremely light throttle, essentially coasting, transitioning from loaded driveline to unloaded as opposed to during acceleration, or running on inclines/declines. VERY difficult to repeat in order to demonstrate to tech after their repeated inability to acknowledge anything was wrong. Even then I had to actually repeat it a few times to convince them there was a problem with the driveline. I thought it to be emanating from the Tcase. Once the tech acknowledged yeah, there's a problem (ding, they pay), I told them they could keep swapping out major assemblies until the problem was gone but I'd start with the tcase if it were me.

I'm wondering if Suzuki still sends technicians out to address/find issues like this?