[joelukex4]

My 2002 Rubicon after plowing food plots recently developed a growl in the front while coasting down between 8-10 mph. this noise happens when I'm coasting unless I maintain slight pressure on the throttle. It happens whether in D1, D2 or ESP. No fault codes show and I am having no problems with the tranny, shifts well, accelerates and slows down properly. In the service manual it mentions that the front end gears can cause a growl/grind when coasting. Sounds like a bearing or gear loading up on deceleration. Anyone have any experience with this type of noise situation. It's hard to tell when you lean forward while running if it is the front axles or tranny but the noise does definately come from the front end of the rubicon.

 

[hondaman5002002]

does it only do it when slowing down or even if you hit the throttle will it do it standing still. I know I had a friend who had a problem like that and his sprag bearing or one way bearing behind his clutch went out. On his bike if you hit the throttle hard and on the idle down turn it off and you will here it winding down. this is all done out of gear. just might want to give it a try. good luch

 

[joelukex4]

Don't know if it is the sprag bearing or not and wouldn't know how to check it out. This weekend changed oil, adjusted valves, new plug, gear oil front and rear, adjusted brakes and checked front wheel bearings. Bearings were tight and the ring gear in the front and rear diffs were immaculate. Have no way of checking CV joints. Everything looked good and ran the Rubi up on blocks to 25 mph with no noise on accel or decel. Went out for a ride to spray the fields and it will still make a grinding noise on deceleration. Happens right around 8 - 10 mph. Ran it in ESP most of the weekend for better tranny control. This noise happens mostly on hard decel, no braking, down hill is the worst. If I keep slight throttle pressure I can eliminate the noise.

 

[look'n for mud]

you mentioned the noise on hard decel or going down hills, I have an 05 rubi and they have engine brakes that make a grinding (growling) sort of noise on decel and going down hill. Not sure if the 02 have engine brakes or not????

 

[joelukex4]

I didn't know there was any engine braking done besides when the tranny is changing gear ratios. Does anyone know how this is accomplished. Is it fluid driven? Honda mechanic any thoughts?

 

[chuck]

My 07 makes the growl/scrape/grind/whirl/whine sound when coming all the way off the gas from zooming along or going downhill. It is a weird noise for sure but I bought it new and assume its normal. Sort of like a robotic bear coming into puberty.

Can you record this sound so we can hear it?

ChuckD

 

[joelukex4]

Chuck, I think you described it perfectly. The machine is not local but when I am at the cabin next time I will see what I can do. This noise is new to the machine. It happened after a hard night of plowing and when I returned to the cabin there it was.

 

[joelukex4]

I've seen posts discussing the engine breaking on the rubicon. Is this done through the sub transmission or the Hondamatic? Is the engine breaking controlled by the oil pump creating pressure on the plates in the hondamatic. Can a weak oil pump create this noise as the rubi slows through 10 to 8 mph. It's interesting that if I keep slight pressure on the throttle I don't here the noise. Could this be that I am keeping the oil pressure up during deceleration. I have not yet had the oil pressure checked but when I was adjusting the valves I forgot to put the timing plug back in before starting and oil was spraying quite far. Seemed like quite a bit of pressure.

 

[cliff668honda]

rubicon trans grinding/growling

Mine did it down hill and I tested oil pressure. Got low readings and am in the process of replacing oil pump. Any progress on yours?

 

[joelukex4]

Since the end of summer of 2007 the noise went away. Have 700 additional miles on it now. It runs well but I don't use it as hard as I used to. I don't pull my one bottom plow with it anymore and this year I pulled the sod buster disc with the Suzuki Vinson. I still pull the small discs, the drag and the trailers with it. I change oil twice a year with synthetic and hope for the best. I'm leary of the day in the future when the tranny doesn't move anymore.

How low was the oil pressure? Did you test it yourself and what equipment did you use? Let me know how hard it is to change the pump for future reference.