Borg-Warner T4 grinding and squealing - Newb

[RidinHighinMyCJ]

So I've been wrenching since I was 16 and starting working on the family ford, but this is my first jeep as well as my first real build so I'm definitely a newb. I spent the last 6 years constantly working on my old 4runner cause it couldn't handle my abuse whenever I left the pavement. I have a basic understanding of drive systems, electrical systems, and suspension.
I decided to get myself a CJ7 because I wanted a vehicle that could handle offroading and I got some extra funds last summer so I stripped it to the frame and pretty much built it back up with help from a mechanic friend. So I had everything checked out whether it was showing signs of needing servicing or not. My T-4 checked out good, the engine got rebuilt and with the help of my buddy I was able to find the special clutch I needed since the Transmission and engine didn't match up for some reason (I don't know much about clutches, transmissions, or transfer cases, so I was pretty much my buddies tool bitch for this stage).
Due to some bearing issues one of my hubs got destroyed so I haven't done much off-roading with the rig since I got it back up and running, mostly on-road to and from school. but I was at my parents a couple months ago and I was going down the highway and I was forced to swerve and my dad thought he heard a loud bang when I swerved. But since then my Transmission has been making, what i can only assume, is a gear on gear grinding when I'm not on the throttle or when i'm cruising and the trucks in neutral. and about a month ago my Transmission decided it was going to start squealing. The squealing doesn't happen at first when the truck is cold, but after 3 or 4 minutes it will start to squeal in any gear in the higher RMP's and when I push the clutch in and out. It seems to be directly related to my RPMs except when I'm decelerating in neutral and the squeal is happening, I have to reduce my speed to a certain point before it stops. Oh and it doesn't do it if i'm stopped, in neutral and accelerate, so only under load? If I had to make an educated guess based on research I've already done I would say the throughout bearing or the pilot bearing? Oh and I have a hydraulic clutch, if that makes a difference.
I took it to a couple different places and they wanted $400+ just to drop the Transmission , I can go buy myself a Transmission jack for half that. Anyone have any ideas of what may be going on, any tips on trouble shooting. or even what kind of wear and tear I should be looking for I decided to drop the Transmission ?

 

[Hedgehog]

Throw out bearings are fairly cheap and that is at least one of your problems. It sounds like you have a habbit of riding your clutch. If your not actuvely shifting keep your foor completely OFF the clutch pedal. T-4 transmissions aren't very strong, a step above the SR4 , but not much of a step.

How are you running without a hub? That would be bad. Sure you don't absolutely need it to get down the road, but you at least need to cover up the hub guts to keep the bearings from destroying them selves with road dirt and grime.

If your going to get much usefull information from us you are going to need to straighten out your posted Jeep information. After reading it I still have no idea what you have.

Speciual Clutch ????? There shouldn't be anything special about your clutch, your not pulling big horse power or big torque a normal clutch should have no problem dealing with your set-up.

Sorry I'm not trying to be negative and it does sound like your excited about your Jeep. I's like to be able to help, bu thonestly I'm more confused now than I was after the first read.

 

[hdgapeach]

God only knows what the loud "bang" could have been. I'm thinking I would be looking at all the suspension components and the nuts and bolts that hold them on the frame. I'm really leaning hard toward steering linkage and or ball joints. Those ball joints can pop pretty good when they're 40 years old and in a bind! I could give you a list a mile long of possibilities but I don't think it'd help. A few critical ones are; engine mounts, tranny skid pan and mounts, steering box mounting brackets, frame cracks around where the steering box attaches to the frame (and on, and on..........).

You definitely have a puzzling search on your hands.

Your throw out bearing might be squealing but, if the clutch is adjusted correctly, the bearing should at least change tone when you press the clutch. You stated something about when it's in neutral. Would that be in neutral with the clutch pedal on the floor or with your foot off the clutch? My experience has been if the bearing needs lube, it'll scream when the clutch pedal is pressed.

Pilot bearing or bushing (whichever you have) will cry pretty constantly if they're dry. I have also seen bushings where bearings should have been or bearings where a bushing should have been (can't remember which way it was. Just remember it was wrong). That condition made a heck of a racket.

The grinding could be about like hunting what made the popping sound; anything from the front wheel bearings to the rear wheel bearings and danged near anything between 'em. Brake pads, shoes, calipers and drums can make some funky sounds under stress, too. The front axle universal joint bearings ought to be checked out, too.

Got your work cut out for you. Tinker on it some and see what you can narrow out of the equation and maybe you'll get some more pertinent info. on here when you post some findings.

Good luck.

 

[hole]

U joints make a squeal when dry and going bad, and typically only squeal under load at speed. What fluid are you running in the Transmission ? If it's gear oil you might want to try Synchromesh, T-4 &5's like it better than gear oil. Just a couple ideas that popped into my uncaffeinated brain.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

When did you last check the tranny and t'case oil level.
Ck oil level in the axles also.
Lube the drive shafts and slip splines.
Ck your motor and tranny mounts.
LG