AWD Growl sometimes

[latvius]

My 2005 Yukon Denali AWD 160k miles makes a growl from the left front, it's not very loud and only does it sometimes. Usually if I make a slight turn under acceleration.
I thought I read somewhere that they have some way to listen to the drive train and can pinpoint the problem. Is this a real thing and what is it called so I can ask for it.
(Also left front hub was just changed and I just changed the fluid, fluid had sparkles in it but no metal pieces)

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Can you record the sound, post it to YouTube, and post the link here? Hearing the growl will be helpful to us in supporting you.

 

[latvius]

Can you record the sound, post it to YouTube, and post the link here? Hearing the growl will be helpful to us in supporting you.

I doubt you're gonna hear it, I have to strain to hear it myself but I will give it a try. It's not related to the engine as I put it in neutral and rev'd with no change.

 

[rockola1971]

Glitter in the front diff is definitely something to be checking on. Pull the cover, drain and inspect gears and pinion bearing for slop. Was hub torqued properly? You can install the shiniest of hubs new and not properly torque and trash it in weeks of driving on it.

 

[latvius]

Glitter in the front diff is definitely something to be checking on. Pull the cover, drain and inspect gears and pinion bearing for slop. Was hub torqued properly? You can install the shiniest of hubs new and not properly torque and trash it in weeks of driving on it.

I forgot to add the sound was before the hub change. Can you pull the cover off a front AWD diff? Never paid attention to how it is assembled I just know it doesn't look like an old straight axle.

 

[latvius]

I doubt you're gonna hear it, I have to strain to hear it myself but I will give it a try. It's not related to the engine as I put it in neutral and rev'd with no change.

The threat of being recorded cured the problem LOL. Drove 40 min to Dothan and back and was almost noise free.
That said I noticed the sound can be heard sometimes while in park and just a little bit rpms above idle I can hear it. So now I think it is something vibrating.
What's been done to the girl lately is new front cover gasket, r&r exhaust manifolds, r&r motor mounts, r&r lf hub, r&r idler arm, pitman arm and center link.

I'm gonna do some more poking around based on this new info.

 

[rockola1971]

The threat of being recorded cured the problem LOL. Drove 40 min to Dothan and back and was almost noise free.
That said I noticed the sound can be heard sometimes while in park and just a little bit rpms above idle I can hear it. So now I think it is something vibrating.
What's been done to the girl lately is new front cover gasket, r&r exhaust manifolds, r&r motor mounts, r&r lf hub, r&r idler arm, pitman arm and center link.

I'm gonna do some more poking around based on this new info.

Well the drivetrain aint turning in park so that rules out the diffs and hubs. The front diff has a cover just like the rear diff does FYI.

 

[latvius]

Well the drivetrain aint turning in park so that rules out the diffs and hubs. The front diff has a cover just like the rear diff does FYI.

True for sure on the drivetrain, can you point out the front cover from this picture?

 

[rockola1971]

True for sure on the drivetrain, can you point out the front cover from this picture?
View attachment 436684

Thats right, im thinking old school setup. Theres a drain and fill plug on it. You will have to pull the stubout to get visual inspection. Stubout is the section on the right side of the pic.

 

[Jimmyy]

We're you looking for something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/Shkalacar-Automotive-Stethoscope-Multi-Channel-Sensitivity/dp/B0CCPBF9HJ/ref=asc_df_B0CCPBF9HJ/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=692875362841&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4271353562565383445&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9019635&hvtargid=pla-2281435179778&psc=1&mcid=317039f0687a3f518dad09bf9d65193f&hvocijid=4271353562565383445-B0CCPBF9HJ-&hvexpln=73