Hi all, hoping you all can help me with a squeal under load that I've been investigating for over 6 months at this point and read every single thread on the internet about this topic. Mine is a 2003 D2 that I actually had a full engine replacement with a TWS performance 4.6 motor I had put in there last year. TO be clear, this only happens when actually moving, not able to recreate at a standstill. It actually does sound like .

Its a cricket like chirping that only occurs when the vehicle is in motion (i.e., does not happen when revving in park / neutral.

Steps I've taken to diagnosis:

• Replaced the front drive shaft (twice) - the obvious potential culprit. However, I did not replace the flanges that the drive shaft connects to
• Replaced idler and tensioner pullies
• I've drive around the block with the serpentine belt off, so that should rule out the PS pump, water pump, anything connected to it
• Since the engine is new, it has all new water pump, plugs, etc.

Any other ideas on how I can diagnosis before I bring this to a mechanic?

Thanks all.

 

Have your rear drive shaft checked, u-joints fail on those too. Can you isolate where the chirp is loudest?

A few other things :

• Jack up each tire and spin it by hand and listen closely and see how it feels rotating
• Pull the tire and check the brake pads and shield, look for stuff stuck in the shield
• Disconnect the heater stuff gets in there and makes weird noises
• Lastly and the sucky bit pull your e-brake drum and check the e-brake - you might be able to check that by putting the back end on jack stands and spinning the tires

 

If it only happens when in motion, it has to be something within the drivetrain. I'm willing to bet its the rear driveshaft. I had something similar, my rear driveshaft center ball (Tom Woods driveshaft) had gotten dry and would squeak while driving. You can test this by taking the rear driveshaft off and move it around to see if it squeaks. A seal may have failed. Have you greased it recently?

 

I’ll try it out with the rear (which I believe is original). Thanks! I won’t be able to drive it around but maybe I can recreate with my hands.

 

The original rear driveshaft doesn't have the double cardan joint, so is less likely to squeak, but still worth a try. When you replaced the front driveshaft, did you try driving without it installed? Does the noise get louder or faster if you are coasting in neutral and you rev the engine? If not, then it is likely a drive train problem. I had a similar problem, but it was my front driveshaft squeaking. When I pulled it out, it seemed totally fine and I could not recreate the noise with my hands. A replacement fixed the issue.