Squeal or sqwak coming from the driveline

[newbievueowner]

Here's my situation,

I changed out the center hanger bearing with a unit that I fabbed up. Also put in 2 new universal joints. Now when I put the shaft ass'y back in I get a high pitch squeal noise coming from the drive shaft area. It's intermittent though! It comes and goes randomly and I can't seem to figure out what is causing it. I've had the shaft out several time to have a look at it and nothing jumps out at me.

I'm leaning towards the U-joints (but I don't know for sure). They are free to move but I noticed that the factory ones had a fiber washer between the U-joint cross and the cap but the Federal Mogul replacement parts do not (to the best of my knowledge when I took the bearing cap off). I'm thinking the cross is rubbing up against the inside of the cap or something causing the sqeal noise??

Anyone ever had an issue similar to this? It is defenitely something in the drive shaft ass'y because if I run without the shaft there is no noise at all. Help would be appreciated. Thanks

[far2grumpy]

nbvo ... I've noted at least one post claiming a failing carrier bearing could cause a "tea-kettle type" whistling noise.

Did you use a new Saturn bearing?

Could the new bearing be stiff ... if so ... do you think it'd respond to a generous dose of penetrating lubricant?

[newbievueowner]

The bearing is brand new (but is a center support from another application) so I doubt that's it but anything is possible I guess. ?? I used a grease needle and injected more grease into it about a week ago and it didn't make any difference.

It's hard to explain. It comes and goes and doesn't usually last long for noise (but it's loud). It may whistle for 5 seconds then go away for 3 then whistle for another 5 then go away completely for the rest of the drive. ???

What I have noticed is that is seems more prevalent (but not 100%) when the vehicle is cold and first ran. Seems to go away as it is ran more and warms up.

Secondly, it seems to go away as well if I run the vehicle at high speeds 80 MPH and then slow down. If it was making any intermittent noise then it seems to go away after that. Almost as if the U-joints are centering or something???

I'm baffled at this point. The next thing I'm going to do is jack it up on all 4 corners and run it up to the speed where it makes the noise when cold (usually around 50-60 Km/h) and see if I can pin point the area that is making noise. Maybe I will see something that jumps out when laying on the ground and wathing it run. ????

I don't know what else to do at this point to try and pin point it and resolve the problem. When it's not 'whistling' it's running great. lol!