nrhmarine

So I bought my 2001 sport with 164xxx miles. It runs great makes a few funny sounds while driving but nothing to bad. Except when I make some what of a hard and take off or if I make a hard turn from a stop. It sounds as if the gears in the front end are binding but once I get over 15-20 mph the noise goes away.

Thanks for the help guys

NorCalJeep

Is it popping? because it could be your u-joints...but i wouldn't know for sure. Maybe some else can chime in.

bloddy mud

you can jack up one tire off the ground, put it in 4wd and move the tire back n forth. also i would check/change your diff fluid. whild you have the plate off take a liik to see if metal shavings n stuff shouldnt be in there

bloddy mud

moving the tire will let you know if you have sloppy u joints

nrhmarine

So am I rotating the tire or moving it back in forth? I will also change the diff fluid.....Thanks man

rompnXJ

checking for play in the tire is how you check for slop in wheelbearings, not ujoints

Height Rider

sounds to me like the diff... i had the same prob and couldnt figure out what it was. i popped the diff case and a nice white goo came out fortunately i caught it in time and my gears r fine

JJCIII

The best way ive found to check the front ujoints actually is to hold the ujoint with one hand and turn the drive shaft back and forth with the other and u should definitely feel play. the other way can work too but i feel its more difficult. to check your hubs, jack it up then hold the top and bottom of the tire and push and pull in opposing directions

Radi

+1 except you don't want to feel slop in the joint.

Also.. go do some figure 8's (so the joints have to turn in their bearings) then stop and feel the u-joints, they shouldn't be more than warm. If they are hot they're binding or bound up and need attention.

DFlintstone

Yea^. The drive-line, (or front axle), needs to be free to check for 'free play", so chuck the wheels and have it in neutral, so it's not "bound"...OR, like Bloody says, you can jack up one wheel, I've actually rotated the wheel back and forth with with my foot, with it in park ,to feel for the play. (Or maybe you have a helper). 'Zero" is what's OK for a U-joint. If you can feel or see any play at all, I'd change it. Anyway, they go often enough that I carry a spare for the drive-line.

JJCIII

Yes i should have clearer. I meant to say you should defintely have play, If they are bad.

nrhmarine

Good to know

elevol92

Mine does similar to what you are saying, but mine is when I make a hard left turn, this only started when I put new tires on, I checked and my left tire is rubbing my lower control arm. It might not be it but it doesn't hurt to check