Creaky Volvo SX outdrive?

[iammarcuse]

I just picked up a 1995 Volvo SX drive with a 3.0L engine. After hearing a clunking/grinding in the gimbal area I pulled the drive. Gimbal bearing was shot and bellows ripped. I replaced the bellows and bearing and aligned the engine. Everything else looked good. The alignment however was way off...I had to drop the front of engine an inch. I had a heck of a time pulling the drive and again getting it back on. It was just not sliding in and out.
Here's my problem; when I move the drive from side to side (engine not running) and sometimes when trimming up and down there is a fairly loud creaking noise as it moves...more at the extremes. I know I got the bearing set in well. But I am stumped about this noise, and the fact that I had such a hard time sliding the drive in. It sounds like it is coming from the gimbal housing. Any thoughts?

 

[danond]

Re: Creaky outdrive?

Re: Creaky outdrive?

If your engine and/or drive moved that much, there's a good chance you have rotten engine mounts, stringers and/or transom.

 

[iammarcuse]

Re: Creaky outdrive?

Re: Creaky outdrive?

I am talking about pivoting it as you would with the steering. Everything is solid.
I am thinking the coupler must be shot. It was really hard to get the U-joint shaft out and into the coupler. It must be binding on the splines. Is there a little movement of the shaft in the coupler when the drive is moved?

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Creaky outdrive?

Re: Creaky outdrive?

You need to use an alignment tool for proper alignment.....
A one inch change is HUGE.....
Even if the rear mounts seem solid there is something amiss, like the engine was pulled & the mounts were reinstalled wrong or something....
Put the word "VolvO' in your header so Don S can catch it, he will have some good advice for you....
The alignment tool should slide in & out easily....

 

[iammarcuse]

Re: Creaky Volvo SX outdrive?

Yes, you are correct, the previous owner cracked the block and replaced it with a Mercruiser 3.0L moving over all the Volvo parts. He did not remove the drive and therefore did not align the new block. I could hear it wasn't sounding right, that is why I pulled the drive. I used the tool to realign it but my suspicion is that it may have damaged the coupler by running out of alignment. Looking with a flashlight the splnes on the couple did not look great. I am guessing that the shaft is binding since it did not slide in, I had to tighten the nuts on the drive to draw it in.

 

[Don S]

Re: Creaky outdrive?

Re: Creaky outdrive?

when I move the drive from side to side (engine not running) and sometimes when trimming up and down there is a fairly loud creaking noise as it moves...more at the extremes.

Disconnect the steering cable and see if the noise goes away.
How was the ujoints when you had the drive off? Usually when the gimbal bearing is rusted, so are the ujoints.

As far as the alignment, Hard to say, maybe the coupler is bad. After you get it aligned somewhat, turn the engine 1/2 turn and see what the alignment feels like. It shouldn't change.

 

[iammarcuse]

Re: Creaky Volvo SX outdrive?

I had thought of that and did disconnect the steering, still the creak. The U-joints looked and sounded good. Nothing loose or sloppy. The alignment ended up pretty good as well. As I had turned the engine to different positions it stayed the same.
The creak is the same noise the shaft made as I drew the drive in with the nuts. Each turn made this 'crkkk' sound. I am assuming it was the shaft pushing it's way into the coupler. What else is there? It is not going to fit that tight onto the bearing you wouldn't think. O-rings were good and I oiled the shaft. Splines on shaft were fine and were greased with Moly. Is there a slight movement in and out of the coupler when the drive is moved?