Rattle at the wheel
08-25-2008, 05:46 PM
#1
CF Veteran
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 2,096
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 2.5L I-4
Rattle at the wheel
I've got a rattling sound coming from the driver's side wheel. Thought maybe it was the sway-bar disconnect (it was loose) but tightened it down and the rattle's still there. Something in the steering? Suspension? Wheel bearing?
08-25-2008, 09:06 PM
#5
CF Veteran
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 2,096
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 2.5L I-4
Head? ... Cap? ... When I think of u-joints I think of... well, "U's" for starters 
, then the little + thingy inside them, and maybe some bearings. What is this head and cap you speak of?
, then the little + thingy inside them, and maybe some bearings. What is this head and cap you speak of?
08-25-2008, 09:21 PM
#7
CF Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: W-PA
Posts: 3,883
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes
on
4 Posts
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
that's what she said.....
i'm sorry i couldn't help it 
What i meant, and i don't know the technical term for them, is the u-joints on the axle shafts. The cross shaped joint you can see through the knuckle. The have caps on each end and inside the caps are needle bearings wrapped around the u-joint end or what i call a "head". The bearings wear down and turn to dust if there's no grease and they u-joint is offically "toasted". So without the bearings, the "head" of the u-joint rattles around in there until you give it a chance to "snap crackle pop".
One way to check this is to jack up that corner and turn the tire back and forth and listen for the rattle or look at the joint for play. Sometimes there is no play and the only way to check is to remove the axle shaft and bend it at the joint.
http://www.stu-offroad.com/axle/ujoint4/u-joint4-3.jpg
This would cause a rattle cuz there's no needle bearings left:
http://dodgeram.org/tech/repair/U_jo...d_ujoint15.jpg
i'm sorry i couldn't help it What i meant, and i don't know the technical term for them, is the u-joints on the axle shafts. The cross shaped joint you can see through the knuckle. The have caps on each end and inside the caps are needle bearings wrapped around the u-joint end or what i call a "head". The bearings wear down and turn to dust if there's no grease and they u-joint is offically "toasted". So without the bearings, the "head" of the u-joint rattles around in there until you give it a chance to "snap crackle pop".
One way to check this is to jack up that corner and turn the tire back and forth and listen for the rattle or look at the joint for play. Sometimes there is no play and the only way to check is to remove the axle shaft and bend it at the joint.
http://www.stu-offroad.com/axle/ujoint4/u-joint4-3.jpg
This would cause a rattle cuz there's no needle bearings left:
http://dodgeram.org/tech/repair/U_jo...d_ujoint15.jpg
Last edited by muddeprived; 08-25-2008 at 09:26 PM.
Trending Topics
08-25-2008, 09:27 PM
#8
CF Veteran
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 2,096
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 2.5L I-4
Hmm... I'll lube it up (
) and see what that does, then jack it up and spin the tire. Hopefully I can pinpoint it and fix it before something DOES go snap, crackle, pop.
) and see what that does, then jack it up and spin the tire. Hopefully I can pinpoint it and fix it before something DOES go snap, crackle, pop.
08-26-2008, 12:54 AM
#10
Renix Super Guru
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: In yourz postez fissin jurr spelinzs
Posts: 24,653
Likes: 0
Received 16 Likes
on
12 Posts
Year: 1990XJ/1989MJ
Model: Comanche
Engine: 4.0L Renix
True if the axle u-joints go dry lubing them won't last long. They need to be replaced. As soon as they get dry they start wearing on the cross in the center of the joint and by the time you hear them they may have already lost some of the needle bearings from the cup.
Sry to hear the Jeep needs this but is a good time to inspect the u-joints and the actual axle shafts and the unit bearings. The unit bearings can make a sound when they are going out but I would describe it as a scraping sound and not a rattle. HTH
Blue
Sry to hear the Jeep needs this but is a good time to inspect the u-joints and the actual axle shafts and the unit bearings. The unit bearings can make a sound when they are going out but I would describe it as a scraping sound and not a rattle. HTH
Blue
08-26-2008, 05:34 AM
#11
CF Veteran
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 2,096
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 2.5L I-4
I realize lubing the u-joints after the fact won't really help, but if it quiets the noise for a few miles then I'll know it's the u-joints. But now that he mentioned the anti-rattle clips, I'm leaning towards that. I'll let you know what I find.
08-26-2008, 09:31 AM
#12
CF Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: W-PA
Posts: 3,883
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes
on
4 Posts
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I just installed new pads, so that's a definite possibility. I'll have to hang my head out the window and see if there's any change when I apply the brakes.
I realize lubing the u-joints after the fact won't really help, but if it quiets the noise for a few miles then I'll know it's the u-joints. But now that he mentioned the anti-rattle clips, I'm leaning towards that. I'll let you know what I find.
I realize lubing the u-joints after the fact won't really help, but if it quiets the noise for a few miles then I'll know it's the u-joints. But now that he mentioned the anti-rattle clips, I'm leaning towards that. I'll let you know what I find.
08-26-2008, 01:49 PM
#15
Do you hear banjos?
I'm sorry if this sounds stupid, but could it be a center cap rattling around when you drive?? Just wanted to bring that up, not trying to be an idiot!! HTH!!