Hi. I have a noise coming from the driver side front axle region near below my feet and was hoping to get a confirmation on my suspicion. At low speed (5-10 mph) it sounds like a slow grinding and knocking sound. After searching the forum, I suspected it may be the axle u joint or a wheel bearing. I jacked up the jeep and tested the following for play: track bar, tie rod, lcas, and u joints. While jacked up, I noticed a small amount of play in the driver side axle u joint, could this be the issue? It was my assumption that there should be zero movement. Disclaimer: I am a newbie.

Note: The sound is noticeable really only at low speed (5-10 mph) and then above 25 ish mph I cannot hear it anymore. If I drive for a bit, then say stop for gas, then start up and drive again I do not notice it. It seems to be loudest after it's been sitting for a while. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

Specs:

1995 xj
4.0 HO
AW4
Stock suspension
193,000 miles

U-Joints should have zero play in them. If you have play replace it ASAP and you might as well do the other side as well. Also check your drive shaft joints as well.

Black89

check the bolts along the whole way of your exhaust system. Quick question, do you hear the rattling from inside your jeep or with the windows down? Sounds echo pretty good with loose parts. Another comment is there should be no play in the U joint, but with it quieting after running for a while leads me to believe a loose exhaust bolt somewhere. Keep us informed.

I can hear/feel it thumping when the windows are up or down. The u joint definitely had play so that's gotta be replaced then. I'll check out my exhaust then, thanks a lot.

Couldn't find anything loose other than the tiny amount of play in the u joint. Although I didn't have time to check everything cause it was getting dark. I torqued the lugs for the hell of it and took it for a short spin: same thing happened. It was thumping pretty good at low speed and at full lock it sounds like a really low pitch almost grinding noise. But after a few minutes of driving it seemed to diminish 'cept for maybe a slight thumping, hard to tell. It could be that I'm just not able to distinguish it but it's nothing like at start up.

"It was thumping pretty good at low speed and at full lock it sounds like a really low pitch almost grinding noise."

Unit bearing. Jack it up and see if the wheel flops around.

I checked it today and the wheel didn't seem to flop around at all. I tested it with my hands at 12 and 6 and then 3 and 9 o'clock with no abnormal movement. I suppose I'll go ahead and replace the u joints and see if that'll settle this. Any other suggestions are welcome, thank you.