Eaton 18 speed rattle noise

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by Cam Roberts, Jul 14, 2019.

  1. Cam Roberts

    Cam Roberts Road Train Member

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    18 speed eaton.
    Have had the truck for 2 years now and has had the noise since i got it. Just thought its time to start thinking about addressing it soon. Who knows how old the clutch is, so whatever i do, its preventative and ill obviously throw a new clutch and flywheel and pilot bearing in.
    Heres info and i know 100 percent its transmissioon and the rest of my driveline is in tip top condition.
    When you let the clutch out and coast at idle in low gear or first you can hear what sounds like marbles in a can rattle. All the way up to the shifter. I have heard this same noise on several older trucks when they are coasting loaded as well. Comes from the trans. Soon as you give it fuel, the noise goes away completely. You have to be coasting. It will do it in 2nd or 3rd or 4th so its not gear related.
    This to me, points to either trans input shaft, Trans main shaft, pilot bearing OR maybe the clutch assembly itslef.
    There is no debris inside inspection plate and all springs are present in the clutch.
    My question is to those who know the noise im talking about, What are your thoughts on what this could be before i take it in a month or 2 or do it myself. Im just to busy to deal with it but it has always bothered me.
    Thanks
     
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  3. Working2party

    Working2party Medium Load Member

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    Any chance this is paired with a Detroit DD Motor??

    They had an issue with clutch rattle, it was caused by the flywheel pocket bearing not engaging the input shaft. It would cause premature wear on the input shaft and eventually knock out the dampener springs.

    Full disclosure here, I’m not familiar with the 18 speed, I’ve never had to mess with them. But I can’t count how many clutches I’ve done.
     
  4. boneebone

    boneebone Road Train Member

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    Throwout bearing is bad, when a new clutch is installed with a new bearing the noise will be gone.
     
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  5. Cam Roberts

    Cam Roberts Road Train Member

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    Its mated behind a cat c12. Im pushing around 550hp but that shouldnt matter becuase like i said its been there since i bought the truck. So who knows, it couldve been rattling for 5 years. When i have to coast or let the clutch out, i do cringe. I had noises that shouldnt be there so im looking forward to having trans yanked.
     
  6. Cam Roberts

    Cam Roberts Road Train Member

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    this is a strong noise within the trans though. Its there when truck is coasting at idle and throwout bearing is completely disengaged. Noise is not there when you push in clutch and engage throwout bearing. HAs to be load on the transmission to get this aggresive rattle in trans. Sounds like bearings somewhere.
     
  7. starmac

    starmac Road Train Member

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    Are you sure your ride height is adjusted right?
     
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  8. bigguns

    bigguns Road Train Member

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    Well which is it? You said when you coast or truck is in low gear or first. To me, coasting is rolling along with the vehicle in neutral. Then you speak of 3rd, 4th and 5th gear. All your words.
    I’m trying to be an arse but your explanation is confusing and contradictory.
     
  9. uncleal13

    uncleal13 Road Train Member

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    I had a WesternStar that just needed the clutch linkage under the dash oiled. It made a lot of racket before that.
     
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  10. Rideandrepair

    Rideandrepair Road Train Member

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    I would rule out height adj.as starmac said, if it’s low, it will make a grinding noise, when coasting in gear, and go away when accelerating. Too high, just the opposite. You probably , know all that. Just thought I’d throw it out there.My linkage was also making a little noise, from the fork rattling on the trhrwout bearing, not really sideloading, but just rattling from loos throwiut. I put a piece of heater hose around the fork rod, between arm and trans, Lol. a couple yrs ago. It worked. Got the trans out now,throwout is very sloppy, pads worn completely out, 4 springs missing on one plate, pilot fell out in pieces. Unbelievable, it didn’t come apart on me, by now.
     
  11. Cam Roberts

    Cam Roberts Road Train Member

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    sorry. was tired.
    I shouldnt have said coasting. I meant clutch out and in gear but not on the throttle. Idling in gear. Basically low rpm and low speed.
    Not a ride height issue. My truck is quiet as a bird sailing through the sky in every gear and at cruising speeds. I have all new drivline, new bags and ride height dialed in. This is a issue somewhere withiin the components i listed somewhere. I guess the point of the thread was to see if any one else has experienced this.
    Yes you can be in 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th but you have to not be on the throttle at all. Soon as you give it some throttle, the bearing noise goes away. Which is what leaves me to believe pilot bearing, input shaft or just a bad clutch disk or pressure plate.
    this is a LOW SPEED condition. Rpms have to be below 900 rpm and basically truck crawling.
    For example, if you are in bumper to bumper traffic and you just drop the truck down to first and crawl without the foot on the throttle and jut let the truck crawl at idle. This is where you hear the noise in the tans area up through the shifter.
    SOry for all the confusion
     
    Last edited: Jul 15, 2019
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