Drumming Noise!!!

Afternoon All,
have driven the wife's Jimmy the last couple of days and it appears to have developed what I can only describe as a drumming or grinding noise when under drive.

It did have a rattle which sounded like a loose cover or similar but now has this more ominous drumming noise.

The noise seems to be coming from the front and only in 1st to 4th gears not in 5th. Noise disappears when "coasting" on the clutch.

Did the king pin repair a little while back and replaced the tie rod ends both sides and the tracking was checked professionally.

Any ideas?

Just read another topic on noise and could it be the vacuum hubs only half engaging. I did look at them as a possibility. When I took them off the nearside one looked to have very tiny particles of metal on the surface?

It's a 2005. Hope fully will get to give it a proper look this week as I am on holiday. Need something to keep me busy.

Right, I drained the gearbox oil and transfer box last night. I noticed that there was what I can describe as metal powder (not swarf or filings) on the magnets of both drain plugs. Also very minute particles in the oil in the drain bowl.

Will re-fill the boxes this morning.

How much play should there be on the end of the drive shaft? I checked the nearside shaft and there was about 2mm of play lengthways.

Will let you know how I get on.

Well, I re-filled both the transfer box and gear box this morning.
Took it out for a test drive for about 5 miles.
Drumming noise is still there in 1st gear but seems to be more of a rattle in 2nd, 3rd and 4th gears around 2,000 to 2,500 RPM
It is worse under drive but less so when coming off the throttle.
Noise disappears when in 5th gear.
Rattle is really noisy when changing down.
Has done 48,000 miles and has always been regularly serviced.
Any ides before I have to resort to a professional?

I had problems last year with what sounds like the same gearbox you have (R72 code for a VVT jimny).

Used prices are fairly high for a spare gearbox (approx £600), and you dont know what condition that will be in

Best option is to recondition the one you have with a full bearing set (what i went for), but its not cheap (£500-700 plus getting the box in/out labour).

The final option is to change the gearbox, transfer box, props and diffs to those from an earlier 2001-2004 jimny, all of which can be bought for less than £500, but requires much more labour.

The R72 gearbox we have is a known problem part with regards to bearings. mine had only done 42000 when it went.

Hope that helps
Riccy.

Cheers Riccy,
I thought the noise sounded expensive and from what you say it is.

I suppose I had better start searching for parts then.

Slippy

No eBay APP ID and/or Cert ID defined in Kunena configurationIf you can rebuild a gearbox yourself or know someone who can the parts are available from the Jimny shop or there is a kit on ebay.
Contact Martin at the shop or .
This only applies if the fault is bearings/seals.
Any problems with shafts/gears it's genuine Suzuki only.