Bad Grinding from Front Left when put into 4WD

Emoto · **Joined:** Wed Nov 22, 2006 12:38 pm **Posts:** 28

2002 Liberty LTD. V6, auto, 242(?) transfer case - 2wd, 4wd Lo, 4wd Hi, FullTime 4wd.

While rolling forward, and I put it from 2wd into 4wd Hi or FullTime 4wd, I get a medium high freq grinding from the left front. I sure as hell don't want to drive it like that. I can only imagine it causing further damage. No bad sounds in 2wd. Also, a couple of times, I have heard and felt a loud thunk up front somewhere after either putting it into or taking it out of 4wd (can't recall which), but not every time.

So, what do you guys think is going on? I have to get it into a shop this week to have it looked at.

dmanars · **Joined:** Sat Jan 07, 2017 4:36 am **Posts:** 4

The Thunk Is normal. I have in my jeep and toyota. I have the similar grinding now also. I used to use the 4x4 all the time going to the beach or fishing. But I gave my car to my girlfriend and when I engaged it the other day I heard the grinding. It hadnt been put in 4x4 in a long time. Im thinking since i havent used it, the case isnt lubed and everything must be bad down there. 2wd works fine though

Emoto · **Joined:** Wed Nov 22, 2006 12:38 pm **Posts:** 28

dmanars wrote:

The Thunk Is normal. I have in my jeep and toyota. I have the similar grinding now also. I used to use the 4x4 all the time going to the beach or fishing. But I gave my car to my girlfriend and when I engaged it the other day I heard the grinding. It hadnt been put in 4x4 in a long time. Im thinking since i havent used it, the case isnt lubed and everything must be bad down there. 2wd works fine though

I tend to put it into 4wd at least once a month to keep things lubed up. The irony is we just got over a foot of snow yesterday, so now is when I really need the 4wd. :banghead:

tommudd · **Posted:** Sun Jan 08, 2017 4:07 pm

Either the rear CV on the front driveshaft or the Intermediate shaft and CV on the right side is where you check first

JTLibertyUK · **Posted:** Mon Jan 09, 2017 10:33 am

tommudd wrote:

Either the rear CV on the front driveshaft or the Intermediate shaft and CV on the right side is where you check first

Yeah, I'd second this - I had a similar problem with noise in 4WD and was mentally preparing to change the front driveshafts, diff, etc, etc... After some research on this forum and advice, I was advised to check the front driveshaft bearings. My rear bearing on the front driveshaft (the one on the transfer box end) was dry, cracked and the boot had completely perished.
The sound I got was like 'rattling chains' mixed with rumbling, grinding, etc. It also sounded like it was coming from the front left side.

The driveshaft comes off fairly easily (with some elbow grease!) and the bearings can be purchased as a complete unit with boot. The bearings themselves are held on with a circlip and should be packed out with grease.

Definitely have a god check underneath it and, if needs be, get the shaft off for a good inspection. You can drive it in 2WD with the front driveshaft removed (as it's only passive when in 2WD). I did this for a few hundred miles, no problems.

It's possibly unlikely to be anything that's running constantly when you're on the road, as the transfer box, front axles, etc are all moving, even in 2WD. When you select 4WD, load is then applied to the normally passive components and that's when you'll hear the noises.

Emoto · **Joined:** Wed Nov 22, 2006 12:38 pm **Posts:** 28

Thanks so much for all of the responses guys! Very helpful indeed!

lassak · **Posted:** Mon Jan 30, 2017 12:11 pm

I am experiencing similar probles when i switch into 4H. Did it sound anything like this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1HQ6__cOYo

GordnadoCRD · **Posted:** Tue Jan 31, 2017 11:37 pm

flip your camera 180 degrees and move it to the other side. Then you can see what you're hearing.

lassak · **Posted:** Wed Feb 15, 2017 6:09 pm

GordnadoCRD wrote:

flip your camera 180 degrees and move it to the other side. Then you can see what you're hearing.

So do you think there is something wrong with the transfer case?

GordnadoCRD · **Posted:** Wed Feb 15, 2017 6:17 pm

I was referring to the driveline coming from the transfer case to the front differential. It sounds very much like the cv joint at the T-case end has failed.

lassak · **Posted:** Wed Feb 15, 2017 6:28 pm

Nope it was not, yesterday I installed brand new front driveshaft (because the old one was actually hollow, the new one is a solid piece of metal) which came with brand new cv joints too... I am quite upset now as I do not want to start taking s*it apart, because I have no time to spend beneath my car these days...

flash7210 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 15, 2017 9:54 pm

In your video, the sounds seem to be coming from the cv axle and/or intermediate shaft.

Also, have you changed your front diff oil lately?
If the front diff oil comes out looking glittery, the the problem is bearings or spider gears.

lassak · **Posted:** Thu Feb 16, 2017 5:42 am

flash7210 wrote:

In your video, the sounds seem to be coming from the cv axle and/or intermediate shaft.

Also, have you changed your front diff oil lately?
If the front diff oil comes out looking glittery, the the problem is bearings or spider gears.

I don´t think there is any problem with diff, because the diff works and spins whether the front is propelled or not - so if there was anything wrong with diff, the noise would be heard in 2WD too. Or am I wrong?
*edit: From my part, I did not change the oil as I have the car for about a year and a half only, but good point anyway, I will add it to my to-do list.

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Sat Feb 18, 2017 5:33 am

if the intermediate shaft splines, on the passenger side, are worn , it can slip inside of the cv bell - if it doesnt do it in 2wd, that's exactly where i'd start

if it's never been replaced it's even more likely, the intermediate is basically a 75-100k wear item, that set of splines are not oil bathed , they're outside of the diff axle seal , theres a small potential for them to get salt contaminate , but generally they just end up wearing due to the torsion on the cv as it gets twisted and pulled as you turn the wheels , eventually those splines get eat up and fail

lassak · **Posted:** Tue Mar 14, 2017 7:26 pm

So finally i had some time for my Libby today. I spent 4 hours with a friend changing both front cv-axles including intermediate shaft (i salvaged everything from a one that his owner managed to roll it over, rest in pieces libby). It was a pain in the booty, but the noise is gone.

:BINGO:

It was caused either by a damaged cv-joint or the intermediate shaft - not sure yet, I will investigate tomorrow.
*diff oil - as black as Ozzy´s soul, but not glittery so far.

Many thanks for useful replies. :SOMBRERO:

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Wed Mar 15, 2017 5:35 pm

good to hear bud :JEEPIN:

Bad Grinding from Front Left when put into 4WD

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