Symptoms of a Failed or Failed Front Output Shaft Bearing

Common symptoms include a noisy transmission, excessive vibrations, and transfer case oil leakage in XNUMXWD or XNUMX wheel drive vehicles.

The output shaft front bearing is a component that is commonly used in vehicles equipped with a transfer case, such as XNUMXWD and XNUMXWD vehicles. The front output shaft bearing is a heavy-duty bearing installed in the vehicle's transfer case that supports and locks the front output shaft in place. The bearing keeps the shaft from swaying as it rotates and thus allows it to rotate smoothly for efficient power transfer. While most output shaft bearings typically last the life of a vehicle, they can sometimes be prone to problems that can cause problems with vehicle operation. Usually, a bad or faulty front output shaft bearing causes several symptoms that can alert the driver to a potential problem.

1. Noisy transmission

One of the first symptoms of a car's front output shaft bearing problem is a noisy transmission. If the bearing is excessively worn or dries out, it may cause the transmission to make abnormal sounds when the AWD system is engaged. A worn or dry bearing can make whining or whining sounds, and in more serious cases, even grinding sounds. The volume or pitch of the sound may change depending on the speed of the vehicle.

2. Excessive vibration from transmission

Another common sign of a possible vehicle output shaft bearing problem is excessive vibration from the transmission. A worn output shaft bearing can cause uneven output shaft rotation and excessive transmission vibration. The vehicle may experience excessive vibration when accelerating or driving at a constant speed. Vibrations are also usually accompanied or preceded by noises.

3. Oil leak from the transfer case.

Another sign of a potential problem with the front output shaft bearing is an oil leak from the transfer case. In addition to supporting and protecting the front output shaft of the transfer case, the output shaft bearing also seals the transmission oil inside the transfer case. If the output shaft bearing is damaged, transmission oil may leak from the gearbox. Oil leakage from the transfer case can cause the unit to fail and be damaged due to lack of lubrication.

While not considered a scheduled maintenance, mainshaft front bearing maintenance is a very important component for proper transfer case operation. When it fails, it can cause problems with the car's transmission. If you suspect that your vehicle may have a problem with the transfer case front bearing, have the vehicle checked by a professional technician such as AvtoTachki to determine if the vehicle will need to replace the output shaft front bearing.