Snakemanc6

Hello,
I'm hoping that someone might be able to provide some insight into an issue I'm having. A couple of weeks ago I started getting a noise that sounds like its coming from my from driver side wheel well of my 2000 XJ, 4wd 4.0. I found a video on YouTube that sounds exactly like what I'm hearing, and will link to it below (if that's not allowed please let me know and I'll take it down).

https://youtu.be/FpZjSh9d_vA

https://youtu.be/ZLJ_Y_Dc_ew


For a little background. The noise is solely dependent on vehicle speed. It starts at about 15-20mph, and slightly changes pitch as I go faster. It doesnt stop until I drop below that speed.

Turning, braking, shifting to neutral, nothing changes the sound aside from vehicle speed.

I've checked brakes for anything abnormal, don't detect any play in the wheel bearing, diff fluidnis good and fresh.

Any info you all might have to share would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance

PatHenry

Front wheel hub and axle u-joints are primary suspects. Things could be rubbing, brakes could be failing to release.

texastaz38

Have you put a big light bar on it recently? Some installs create a wind noise that is directly correlated to vehicle speed. Just throwing that out there and not trying to be a smart butt.

Good Luck and Happy Jeepin'

'90Cherokee

Hard to say from a video, but my first thought is pinion bearing or something in the Tcase. Or maybe wind noise as already said. Try it in 4WD to see if it changes with load. Have someone else drive and see if it sounds about the same from the passenger side, this should tell you if it's really at the left or you're just thinking that because of your position. Also try riding in the back to see where it sounds from. While you're passengering, put your ear onto the transfer case shifter to see if it's coming through it. See if there's any play at the pinion or Tcase yokes.

Other options are putting it up on jack stands and running it so you can get under it and try to narrow it down.

Another great option is
I have a few of these I'm selling for much less, or can lend you one. I've used that to narrow down a few noises and it leaves 0 doubt once you hit the guilty component.

Snakemanc6

Thanks for the info everyone, i really appreciate the input.

I noticed in the comments on one of those videos that the poster mentioned that he sprayed down a lot of his drivetrain with PB Blaster and the noise went away... I really didn't think anything of it, but figured what the hell.
The past couple of days I've hit all of the u-joints with PB blaster. Last night on the trip home, the noise just suddenly dropped dramatically. If i listen carefully i can still hear it, but its drastically less and at a smaller speed range.
I doubt that its a permanent solution, but seems too much of a coincidence to not be the u-joints now.

What do you guys think?

PatHenry

Sounds like a close inspection of the u-joints is definitely in order.

'90Cherokee

That adds to the probability of a Ujoint being the culprit.

97grand4.0

Does the abs tone wheel have anything hitting it? I once had the back park brake hold down come off and was jammed into that and it made a heckuva howl.