Truck broken down. Need tribal knowledge.

[Dukester]

My brother in law is using my truck and broke down last night outside of Spokane. He is safe and sound and the truck is on it's way to a AAA shop but I need some help trouble shooting the problem.

The trick is, the symptoms don't add up for me and I am trying to problem solve from 300 miles away. Bear in mind, all of this is second hand over the phone and I'm not there to put eyes and hands on the issues.

He said the truck started vibrating form the front end pretty badly so he pulled over. Oil was about half a quart low and he found oil leaking from the bell housing, coating the gas tank and up on the rear window. Motor is apparently running smooth and the tranny is shifting with no issues.

I'm thinking rear main seal for the oil leak, but not sure how that translates to vibrations on the front end. I just had the tires rotated and rebalanced before he left with the truck and it was driving smoothly.

Also, if you have some recommendations for shops in Spokane, I'm all ears.

Thoughts?

Thanks,

Duke

 

[stamp11127]

Oil leak could be rear main, valve cover gasket or head gasket. It will take considerably more than 1/4qt of oil to coat the underside then head back up the window.
Vibration could come from loose lugnuts since they had to remove the wheels.

 

[Dukester]

Oil leak could be rear main, valve cover gasket or head gasket. It will take considerably more than 1/4qt of oil to coat the underside then head back up the window.
Vibration could come from loose lugnuts since they had to remove the wheels.

No oil from valve covers. Lug nuts are good as I checked torque on them after I got it home with my torque wrench. I never trust the tire guys entirely. ;-)

I have pictures incoming.

 

[Dukester]

Daylight helps quite a bit. Here's what we are looking at. This is looking towards `

 

[stamp11127]

That looks like the transfer case, not the bellhousing. I don't have 4x4 but that drive shaft looks like it is pulling out. And why is a rubber piece way out from the tail shift housing? If that is the case and it is coming out it may be the source of the vibration. If it is then something else is seriously wrong.

 

[Dukester]

No expert by any means, but can that shaft come out considering it's bolted to that U joint? Looks more like the seal has backed out. Again, I''m 300 miles from the truck right now.

 

[stamp11127]

It shouldn't. It is always easier to check the obvious first. Just something to look at. But I've seen big trucks come out of the shop after having a clutch replaced only to throw the driveshaft within a few miles. Helps to tighten the straps on the u joints. The drive shaft tends to stay attached longer that way.

 

[expo dude]

looks like that seal backed out due to the bering at the tail shaft has went bad causing that seal to move out and the vibration.