So my daily bomber/parts runner/ pos beater is an 04-05 Pontiac Montana, not 100% on the year. Has over 221k miles on it, orig engine and trans. Swap winter tires to my summer tires today, and on the way home from the shop, develops a terrible noise, kinda like something's way outta balance, from the drivers side front.
When it first started, it sounded like chirping brakes, on a warped rotor, and I could still do 60+mph. As the drive went on, turned into a grinding noise, like the wheel was rubbing, but its not. By this time, anything over 35 comes with a grinding, thumping, that gets really loud and harsh by 45-50.
By the time i get home, I'm down to driving 25 to keep it tolerable.
Symptoms,
If I steer to the left, the noise goes away, still hear a faint thump.
If I speed up, noise mostly goes away.
Steering to the right does nothing
Braking changes alittle, but not much
Get into the throttle hard, then snap outta it, the noise goes away, but when you snap out, it gets real loud for a sec, then back to previous level.
So I jacked the drivers side up, lower ball joint is firm, no extra movement. Wheel bearing same way, no weird noises when I slowly turn by hand, no notable play. Grab halfshaft, no movement in either joint, boots are good, no damage,
However, noticed I could physically move the whole axle assembly up and down 1/8" at the trans output, where is the pass side is tight, no movement.
It wasn't a sudden noise, it slowly came on, within 10-15 mile drive. Acts like the half shaft is worn and floppy, but isn't.
Is there some kind of support bearing inside the trans that went bad, if so, can it be easily replaced or does it require trans disassembled
Thoughts, advice? Gonna try and get it back to the shop tomorrow, if it'll make it.