I just bought my Jeep, not sure if I noticed it on the test drive but did after a day of driving. It has 181K miles on it. I'm having rear end noise, sounds kind of like light scraping or scoring. I've read a lot on the form to try and diagnose the problem but would like to get some advice before I start replacing more parts.

The noise is pretty constant I can hear when I hit 10 MPH. It doesn't change when I let of the gas or accelerate. Nor does it change when I turn side to side or around a corner or hit the brakes. Below is a list of things I've fixed or replaced:

1) 4 new toyo open country tires (needed them badly)

2) I replaced the rear rotors, pads and drum (parking) brakes

3) Rear diff fluid, changed. Looked very good, no metal shavings of any kind. The ring and pinon looked good, but didn't look very good at the bearings because I thought it was the brakes.

4) Checked the t case fluid, it was full a little dark but otherwise ok

5) U Joints, tight no play no obvious signs of being shot

6) Yoke and Seal, yoke had no play, seal looked good with no leaks.

When the rear was in the air, I spun each wheel and couldn't get it to make any noise. I sat in the back seat while my daughter drove me around and it seemed like maybe that it might have been coming from the right side, but couldn't say for sure.

Anyway, sorry for the long post but it should save a lot of back in forth questions. I'm set to replace the axle bearings, not a big deal $17 worth of parts. I'm hoping it's not in the carrier or pinon bearings. Any help would be great!

 

maybe add the friction modifier to the rear diff, and maybe take a better look at the ujoints.

 

Ok, i saw additive at the parts store. I will probably change out the u joints to, i'm sure they're not that expensive and pretty easy to replace. I will let you know how it goes.

 

So, it's not the U Joints! I replaced them yesterday, and it's still making the noise. I didn't try the additive yet, I will try that today.

Next will be the axle bearings... Are they pressed on?

 

Have you looked at the rear brakes?