adarling

I am getting a banging/vibrating noise coming out of the front wheel area. The strange thing is that it starts happening after I make a really long trip or when I tow something heavy. Then after a week of so, it just diappears again. When it does make the noise, it only happens when you are going 30-35 and you are going straight and you let off the gas. Sometimes it will cause the wheel to bounce around a bit and cause vibration up into the steering wheel. I theorized that it could be a bad wheel bearing and that a bad ball bearing would jam up in there until you really put it under load or took a long trip. Replaced it, but it still makes the noise. Kind of like a shaft being loose and bouncing around inside a hub. So... I am wondering if it could be a half shaft gone bad (4WD) or maybe the shock or some part of the suspension (but why wouldn't it do it all the time???) Maybe even something going on in the trans axle, but I don't think it would cause as radical a vibration in the wheel area. Could be a joint in the suspension somewhere, but I can see anything that looks like it is worn and everything seems tight. And why would it stop making the noice 1-2 weeks after the trip is over? Weird stuff. Any suggestions???

JCJimmyD

I sounds it could be the u-joints in the front drive shaft are either seized up or completely wore out. That's where I would start.

adarling

Are you talking about the first joint out from the transaxle on the half shaft?

JCJimmyD

The shaft that goes from the front of the transfer case to the front differential.

adarling

The U-joint seems to be okay. If I go back to the other end of the shaft where the shaft goes into the mounting bracket at the front of the transfercase, the rubber seal is broken and I can see the ball bearings in there. That could be a problem, but that is located below my seat and the sound I hear is coming from the front. One other issue that could be related is: some time back, I tried shifting into 4WD low and it did not work, and I got a message "service 4WD system". I haven't got that fixed yet. Could there be anything going on related to that? BTW I pulled out the half shaft to take a look at it and I have no idea if anything could be wrong with it. Everything rotates perfectly by hand.

JCJimmyD

Wool I looked at the pic. And I do believe there is supposed to be grease in there. About the 4wd that might be as simple a linkage adjustment or actuator switch. As for the wheel nose you may have a bearing pack going bad. Get the front tires off the ground and see if they wobble. grab the tire at the top or bottom and pull back and forth. It should not move. It it does that would be an indicator for the wheel bearing pack

adarling

Both front wheels feel perfectly tight. I pull of the front drive shaft and found a replacement part for the CV joint only at driveshaftparts.com for $55. Of course, it cost $27 to get here in three days. Much better than getting a new one at $400+ or used $110-$250. Hopefully, the noise was just translating to the front and my problem is solved. If not, it will be back to the drawing board. As for the 4WD issue, when I toggle the switch, it does nothing and gives me the message "service the 4WD system" and that's it. So it is definitely picking up the signal from the switch to activate and getting some kind of feedback from some sensor. Any ideas how to figure that out?

JCJimmyD

It could be the sensor not putting out the correct voltage back the computer that might cause the reading. Could be a bad wire or a loose plug. It could be allot of things. Does it actually go into 4wd? If so then it is most likely an electrical issue.

JBimmolate

Um yeah that cv joint is toast. I see it all the time at my shop. That will be your clunking problem.

Miles

adarling

It is Quadratrac, so it is always in 4WD. When you actuated the switch, it does not go into 4WD low, just the message. No noises or anything going on suggesting that it is trying and can't get it done, it just flashes the message only.

adarling

The is in route. I hope that is the problem, but the noise seems to be coming from the front and not the middle of the Jeep where the CV joint is located.

JBimmolate

Well the cv will be to the driver side not the middle. The noise can also transmit down the axle shafts like a record player needle. Either way with that joint that dry every so often the rollers will get hung up and make a god awful racket. Also check the axle joints.

Miles

dave1123

Sorry to say, that CV joint is TOAST! Whatever the price, replace it before it destroys itself or the whole driveshaft. Try rockauto.com.

adarling

Thanks Miles. The drive shaft I am referring to runs from the transfer case up to the front differential. The CV joint is at the transfer case end and there is a u-joint at the other end. So the CV joint is right below my seat on the drivers side. I was able to replace the CV joint on the shaft and reinstall and there is no noise at this point. I will test it out with a long trip to Utah tomorrow. It was not easy as the new CV joint would not seat far enough on the axle to install the snap ring. I had to grind down the seat on shaft to get it done. Why the tolerances would be off on a part that is supposed to fit my Jeep is unexplainable. Made a 20 minute job take 2 hours.

adarling

Thanks... got'r done!