Noise in 4 wheel, 2 wheel, repet. thump +/- clink that drags

Function > Form · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2014 9:45 am

We hit a bump on the road this weekend at about 30 mph / 50 kph on the left front side. It was a manhole cover that was sunken down about 5-6". I was in Full-Time.

Starting after about 100 yards or so later when slowing down, it made a repetitive thump thump thump sound and some jingling, some single clinks. It drags (slows us down) but doesn't pull to either side. When speeding up you can hear it cycle faster and it gets quieter and then it goes away around 35mph/60 kph. I can even drive it on the hwy (only did it once, now nervous) and it seems smooth and quiet, i.e. the noise does not come and go when you turn the wheel. Gets louder when off the gas, quieter on the gas. It might be louder when turning, but might just because I listen to it more closely with the window down when going slower.

I pulled over and checked for anything visibly wrong and came up with nothing. I should mention that when I was looking underneath, I was focussed on the front as that's where I thought the sound originated. Wheels all look straight, none are hot in the middle (wheel bearing), no leaks anywhere (checked up front), boots are all solid, no flat tire, no bulges in the tires, no chunks of snow/ice caught.

Afterwards, I figured out that the left front wheel came loose! I assume it was not on quite right because of corrosion, etc. I tightened them all to 100 ft-lbs (checked all four, this was the only one loose) and thought it was ok. But no. Was also changing the valve cover and checked the front diff oil and all it up to level, clear and no metal visible in it.

Today, same thing, in reverse you can also hear it as well as in 2wd, but maybe quieter? It shifts smoothly between all modes (regular gear selector and 4x4 lever). I have to do some more testing. It also thumps at about 10-15 mph when coming to a stop - probably unrelated but thought I'd mention it.

I replaced the DS head about 12 months ago, boot seems to still be intact. I know that the driver's side wheel bearing is likely original (115k miles/193k kms), I replaced the psgr one with a Timken about 3 months ago. Also, sometimes it makes the noise when you drive it, sometimes it doesn't. For example, on Saturday morning it didn't make the noise, but as we drove more it got more pronounced. This morning it started as soon as I backed out of the driveway.

HELP me figure this out please, my friends! Would it be the wheel bearing? I plan to check for play at the 12/6 tonight. I hope that's all it is.

clehmann · **Joined:** Sun Sep 16, 2012 7:53 pm **Posts:** 24

You could check the right side where the CV meets the intermediate axle. Mine made similar noises because the snap ring came off and the CV was walking out and grinding off the spline teeth. Sometimes it made noise, sometimes nothing.

Function > Form · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2014 4:26 pm

Thanks for the suggestion - I'll check it out while I have it up tonight.

Function > Form · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2014 7:30 pm

This has to be way worse than wb's. Left one I replaced a few months ago, still good. Right one is also still good. No play in any direction with the rack locked.

All brake hardware is installed and torqued, all suspension hardware and all balljoints also. Checked the axle nuts and they are also fine as are all 6 of the E14s behind each of the hubs.

Driveshafts both good, no play in any direction, boots fine, driveshaft u-joints? (x things think they are u-joints) also good. All rear suspension is a-ok also.

Rotating the wheels while in park with the front end up on jackstands, there is no noise in either direction, while rotating either side.

More info -
In 2wd, sound goes away on accel, comes back like this right after decel: clink (like a small sledge on a solid metal post sound), thump thump thump thump thump about every foot of pavement but then goes away when cruising above 25 kph.
In part-time, sound goes away on accel, comes back like this on decel: clink, (softer) thump thump thump thump same frequency.
In full-time, sound goes away on accel, comes back the same, but even less pronounced.

Is it possible the diff grenaded??? Or is the 4wd selector fubared? Liberty off road machine ftw. fml.

Function > Form · **Posted:** Tue Dec 16, 2014 9:57 am

Well.

Although the sound seemed like it was coming from the front, it was the back. The parking brake was the culprit...it's not fixed, but a couple short yanks on the lever and the sound is completely gone. Jeep drives smoothly, no dragging, no clinking, no thumping.

and

With the metal on metal clink sound, I'm going to have a closer look before I assume it's just the pkg brake. If it is something else, I will be sure to update the thread. If someone is looking for a response, for some reason I don't get notifications to my email even though it's set up that way. Be patient and I'll be back, or it was just the parking brake. BTW it was not the parking brake - see below

Happy jeepin'

Function > Form · **Posted:** Mon Dec 29, 2014 11:58 am

I still haven't been able to fix the problem. The parking brake mechanism is not it.

I replaced the right side wheel bearing with a Moog 3 yr warranty part as it had some play at 12-6 so I thought I needed it right away. I would have bought a Timken but couldn't wait (#ChristmasMania)...turns out some of the problems were due to that bearing going, but only minor changes to the behaviour.

It seems to happen only after driving for a little while (i.e. > 10 minutes). After fixing the bearing it was silent until after I went on the highway for about 10 minutes. Then, as before, as I was coming to a stop it was clink, whump whump whump whump (with some mixed metal on metal sounds and felt like it was catching on something) getting slower until stopping.

I found a new intermediate shaft and psgr Cv/axle that I will swap in and report back. I suspect the splines are garbled.

Function > Form · **Posted:** Mon Jan 05, 2015 10:23 am

Before I even got as far as pulling the intermediate shaft and psgr half shaft, I jacked it up at all 4 corners and spun the wheels to see if I could isolate the sound.

The friggin front driveshaft is clinking around...so I pulled it (the boot was completely good, no tears, nothing). The grease is so-so. A bit caked and dry, likely was getting too hot and got cooked. The cv end when removed is LOOSE and rattling like a ghost in the attic. I just left it off for now, covered both ends of the TC and the pinion end of the transmission and ordered a new head from Automotive Parts Unlimited. The sounds are all gone. I've driven all over at all speeds and conditions and can't seem to replicate it.

Good thing this happened during the worst weather we've had in a month...

Hopefully this is all of it, but we will see. I suspect it's only part of the problem as it is so cold now that I might not be able to replicate it (it was getting worse when on hwy >10 mins).

Noise in 4 wheel, 2 wheel, repet. thump +/- clink that drags

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