I have a 97 xj with a 231 tcase. I was driving on the highway and had no problems or noises. I got off the highway and had a swirling marble noise coming from where the 4x4 shifter is. Bearing or chain? I have no front drive shaft hooked up and I have no vibes or anything just that noise.

 

Sounds like a good time to check/change fluid. I have no experience with t-case noise, but swirling sounds more like a bearing.

Or...it's a manual trany and started the noise when when you went to a lower gear, so check the trans oil? Bearing going there?

 

It's an auto trans. And i just changed the fuild in the tcase and no change. Ugh this is annoying

 

SYE and longer/double cardon rear drive shaft? If not it could be that your tcase yoke has pulled too far out of the case and has added slop when not under load, as in just coasting. Had a similar problem, but was more of kind of grind. Just my .02

 

Wonder if it wouldn't help to home in on it by seeing if you can get it to do it in Low range? Sound of course can be funny. I might check the trans fluid just on GP.

Someone here would know better than me..if it just did it decelerating would that point at the chain?

 

It Doesit on accelerateing and lettting off the gas as wheel and just coasting and driving normal It's just a constant scratching marble noise

 

I have no experience with t-case noise, but that does sound like a bearing. You might want to check that output shaft for slop. It is, after all, kin to the pinion bearing that is known to act up. Tough spot to feel for heat, although I guess someday it would smoke! Guess if it where that it would do it in Low range also....

 

What bearing are you thinking? The one in the tail housing?

 

I would definitely look there first considering you have no front shaft so it's not likely to be a front half problem, I don't think anyways.

 

Now I'm pretty sure it has a bad chain. Put it in 4lo with no front ds and it starts to like lung then stop then lung and stop with a wierd noise

 

Sorry to hear that, Sounds ugly. Afraid I don't have much to offer. Might be there would be extra play in it if the chain is way worn. I might disconnect the drive line at the diff and try to feel for extra play rotating it. It might get really clear. Maybe someone else could "chime in" here.

"What bearing are you thinking? The one in the tail housing?" ;
I had gotten mixed up and was thinking front, but same difference except you might well feel heat there on the tail housing if that bearing was toast. If you are right there you might as well check for side play anyway.
------------------------------EDITED V
I found out later that the bearing is way in behind the tail housing. (under a snap ring) There is a bushing behind the seal. Guess you might not feel play OR heat if the bearing was noisy.

 

Was looking at this here in my barn. From the outside is looks as if the chain drives the front.....Wonder why your drive-line is out? That output shaft there has no play whatsoever. Again, I don't know these things, but if it's stopping and lunging, and the chain drives the front, (which is out), might be your problem is somewhere else, or the chain is loose in there causing trouble. Is it time to park it and/or get into it? In all honesty it would prolly be easier to just grab one for 70$



plenty often I find when something looks like toast it's just something stupid. Somebody put something backwards, or something came unbolted. Or it's just toast.

 

So after driving it the noise is only there after fluid gets hot. Is say 10 mins of driving. I put it in 4 hi and lo and it seems to be ok. The sound is only really noticeable in 2wd driving with the windows up. If I'm coasting and tap the gas I crate a chattering marble noise same as if I'm applying minimum throttle for about 30 seconds. I'm confused. I want to go wheeling this week but I wanna also figure out the problem without ripping her apart because this is my dd. Sorry for being a pain

 

I just did a 4x4 swap on it that's why the front shaft is out. I don't have the right one.

 

Yea, looked at your thread. Saw one about this also. Anyway I guess there's a bushing right behind the seal that might steady the output shaft even if the bearing was gone. That's not your lunging and stopping anyway I doubt. Might line up a replacement then take a lookin see at yours.

There's only 3 bolts on that housing, bushing comes off with it. Bearing there does have a snap ring. No idea what it's like getting it out if it's feels bad.