whats this horrible noise? (video) bad tranny?

[mattbreaksthings]

my 97 exploder is making this horrible sound when i drive.
in the vid I go from 10 mph to about 55 and you can hear the sound VERY well. it even turns heads :/

VIDEO

 

[4x4xbrian.com]

I would guess transfer case., or differential.

 

[mattbreaksthings]

well its a 4x2 so no transfer case and Im thinking dif also. so I bought some gear oil and plan on changing/looking to see what might be the problem today as the oil needs to be chaged anyway.

I really hope its not the transmission... my baby does have 247,000 miles on originals :/

 

[gijoecam]

IMHO, it's a u-joint. You can hear the rhythm as it accelerates, and it varies pitch with speed, not with load, eliminating a diff issue. (Diff bearings tend to whistle long before them make that kind of noise)

My money is on a u-joint. $15 in parts. If you have access to an arbor press, use it. There was no way in heck I was gonna get mine apart with a socket and a hammer.

 

[mattbreaksthings]

ok well I changed my dif oil anyway this morning. .. water anybody?

all the parts had a heavy gray film over them... ohwell..

i had it in the shop for a rear broken yoke and it bent driveshaft a few months ago. maybe its a faulty u-joint
i'll take it back up there in a few minutes

 

[Mettler]

Definetly a wheel bearing. Ive heard that alot. Listen carefully to which corner or end. I'll bet its your front wheels.