my jeep is making a clanking noise. i took it to the mechanic. they found that the passenger axle u joint was shot and my transfer case fluid was a quart low. so they replaced and filled the tcase but it is still making the same noise. they also told me to take it to a transmission/transfer case place. anybody have any idea what the noise could be?

 

Are you running the same size tires? Did you recently go mudding/ wheeling? Something could have got in your drivetrain system. Recommend replacing all fluids

 

same size tires, no not gone wheelin lately, and i changed fluid in both differentials not to long ago

 

im confused about the passenger side axle joint... there are u joints at the wheels and u joints in the drive shafts. if they changed the TC fluid and there were no metal shavings and it doesnt run worse (or better) AND IF the bad u joint is indeed the rear drive's (the front, i think, is a double cardon joint that, if bad, means a new front drive shaft... but they are cheap at the JY.

a way to test your axle shaft u-joints: with jeep in park (im assuming you have an the AW-4 auto) crawl under and twist the front and rear drive shafts. if they move at all, especially the rear, then you might want to replace the u joint... also cheap.

 

does it get worse in 4wd? if so then its the front shaft

 

no it doesnt get worse in 4wd it stays the same. i was thinking about changing my front drive shaft u joints to see if that was the problem

 

yea, like i said on my 99 i gotta swap the whole shaft... idk what kinda joint assembly your has, but either way its pretty straight forward.

 

i have double cardon

 

and the reason why i think its the tcase is cause i told them to look and the ujoint on my front driveshaft.

 

TCase chain can stretch and get sloppy, even seen em get to point of skipping tooth on the internal sprockets. You can feel for slop thru the fluid fill hole. Use Dextron type trans fluid. While under there feel all your universals for play.

 

so should the drive chain be real tight or a little loose?

 

I couldn't feel it from the fill hole. Did you mean the drain hole?

 

One of my front U joints was bad and making noise when I turned, not so much going straight or anything. Don't know if that helps. It was a B***CH to change out too!!!

 

this is what i was told is wrong with mine.

 

Doing an NP213 Tcase Chain, 1st time took me about 6 hours working off the floor. A learning experience. Last one was 3 hours total using hoist and doing lots of other checking and lubeing while it was up. I feel thru the drain hole. Good chain can be snug to some play. If it really flops up and down on end of your finger the chain is done. Clean up your case real good when open and insure the seam edges are clean and dry before sealing. I use permatex ultra copper flurosilicone gasket compound with great results.