Sounds and feels like driving over rumble strips

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Skylander

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Hi all,
I have a 2011 Tahoe 4WD with about 80K. Recently going down the freeway it felt and sounded like I was going over rumble strips (70mph). It wasn't constant, more like the strips in the center of two lanes where there is a gap. I pulled off at the next exit and it was still doing the same thing going only 55mph.

It was raining so it was hard to get a good look, but I did look around the engine and underneath the truck. But didnt see anything obvious. Whats odd is after sitting at the gas station for about 30 minutes I drove home and it didn't do it again. So I thought maybe it had something to do with the rain and tires. The tires are getting worn and are ready to be changed before winter.

I continue to drive it all week and it never done it again. However after about 5 days I parked in a different spot and noticed several spots of fluid in my normal spot. I look underneath and there is allot of fluid dripping down and around the front differential (picture below). I know its pretty recent as I'd just changed the engine oil 2 weeks earlier and there was no drips on the drive.

I'm trying to figure out if this is diff fluid or possibly transmission fluid. There is actually a puddle of fluid on top of the diff. It looks kinda muddy. I couldn't get a picture of it, but could see it. With the heat shielding I cant really see if there is any transmission lines above that might be leaking.

I'm thinking it could be transmission related, maybe it was leaking longer than this and low fluid is causing this? Or maybe the torque converter? Or maybe it is the diff.

How should I proceed to diagnose the problem?

Thanks

 

mikez71

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Guessing it is a blown motor mount.
I had a bad one, and it oozed on the front diff much like yours.

Not sure about the rumble strip feeling.. tcc slipping?
 
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Skylander

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Thanks, I never even considered the engine mount. They have fluid in them? I had no idea. I suppose that would explain why the fluid looked so odd.

I watched a video of a guy changing the drivers side and it does look like possibly trans fluid lines run under it.

After watching that video I'm pretty sure you are right on the source of the leak. I suppose my next step is to fix that mount.
 

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