Terrible squeaking when in reverse

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Fri Nov 28, 2008 7:12 pm

As the topic says. It only happens when I am in reverse and moving. The squeak changes pitch as the wheels turn faster but if I put it into D and roll forward, it's silent. I first noticed this about two weeks ago and it's getting louder as time goes on.

I am about to tow all of my belongings from FL to CO in 1 month and I am a bit paranoid that something is going to break before/during the big road trip.

Any ideas?

durangotang · **Posted:** Fri Nov 28, 2008 7:14 pm

Were you planning on driving this way backwards? :lol:

snowsport · **Joined:** Tue Oct 18, 2005 11:52 pm **Posts:** 1211

I'm wondering if you got a rock chip or something stuck in the caliper on the leading edge, so it only scrapes in reverse? Just pop the wheel off and have a look.

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Nov 28, 2008 9:40 pm

checked the u joints lately?

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Sat Nov 29, 2008 11:32 am

tommudd wrote:

checked the u joints lately?

Is that a symptom? No I haven't and to be honest, I wouldn't know how to check them beyond seeing something is broke and thinking to myself "yup it's broke". I am just perplexed about why something would squeak rolling in only one direction. Admittedly, I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

I have to rotate my tires anyway so I am going to have a looksy today. If I see anything unusual, I will snap a photo for expert analysis.

tommudd · **Posted:** Sat Nov 29, 2008 11:59 am

Most times a u joint will be heard going forward, (wife gets mad all the time if we are somewhere and I hear a u joint squeak and say something)but I have heard a few that squeak in reverse. May have to unbolt it to see if it is rusted/locked up. Mine looked fine at 55,000 but was toast. Got hotter than a two .......billy goat only driving a mile down the road

jeepmedic46 · **Posted:** Sat Nov 29, 2008 12:01 pm

I would go with the u joints.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Sat Nov 29, 2008 1:16 pm

OK, I went out there to check on things. First off, I couldn't rotate my tires because the jack stands I bought for my Celica couldn't keep the tires off the ground even at full extension (and I have no 2x4s). Since I am moving in a month, no sense in buying new ones now only to take up more space in the trailer. So I will have someone do it for me.

My mom happened by and I asked her to hop in and roll backwards while I walked along side. The noise is definitely coming from the rear (not the front as first stated). Upon inspection of the rear wheels, I noticed excessive brake dust all over the inside. I just washed the Jeep on Monday and remember seeing a lot of black crud from both rears come out when I hit them with the power washer. The dust seemed excessive since I didn't drive much all this week.

Could it be both rear calipers are sticking?
If so why only in reverse?
Is there a way to get them unstuck or do they need to be replaced?

The U Joint thing is still on my mind, but again, wouldn't know what a good one vs a bad one looks like (unless broken). Maybe I will bring er in for a pre-cross county road trip inspection.

Hood297 · **Posted:** Sat Nov 29, 2008 2:14 pm

I had a rear caliper lock up on me, and it was getting so hot that it was smoking. My EBC greenstuff's turned into Blackstuff's the wheel was so hot i couldn't even touch it.

If both rear were sticking you would have some real issues. It couldn't hurt to change out your U-joints. Fairly easy, and cheap. plus you can get some with a zerk fitting so you can grease them.

tommudd · **Posted:** Sat Nov 29, 2008 2:23 pm

could be the calipers for sure did it make the noise in reverse with the brakes pushed and released both? If you have excessive then there(maybe) a problem with them sticking.
as far as the u joints 20 some bucks each and then you can grease them , for me cheap insurance, do not want to get stuck half way across the country

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Sat Nov 29, 2008 2:33 pm

Good advice Tom. I will bother someone from my local Jeep Club to help me put new u joints in.

No smoking or excessive heat though with the brakes.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sat Nov 29, 2008 4:43 pm

Does it make the noise while going in R if you are slightly putting on the brakes?

Hopefully you would notice both rear calipers sticking.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Sat Nov 29, 2008 10:52 pm

Is there a part # and a source you can recommend for KJ u joints? I think there are two correct?

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Sun Nov 30, 2008 10:34 am

Tom Woods
- greasable
http://www.4xshaft.com/index.html

although NAPA has some greasable ones too.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Mon Dec 01, 2008 7:50 pm

Today as I was backing out of a spot I heard the squeaking and then I dropped it to N; even though I was still rolling, it was silent. Once I put it back into R, the squeak came back. Does this point more towards the u joint?

kjsport05 · **Posted:** Mon Dec 01, 2008 8:45 pm

had the same problem a few months back and i only noticed it when it was in reverse. then all of a sudden the noise went away for some reason so i didnt think anything of it. well the night before the jamboree, im driving down the interstate and i let off the gas and the whole rear end is shaking back and forth (like terrible brakes). Long story short, u-joints were seized up and now im looking at some future repairs on the t-case because the splines inside got chewed alittle (good excuse for SYI lol bad on the wallet).

in my opinion, i would just change them out ASAP and call it a day. i got greasable ones and hopefully will have no more problems out of it.

kjsport05 · **Posted:** Mon Dec 01, 2008 8:48 pm

JL Rockies wrote:

Today as I was backing out of a spot I heard the squeaking and then I dropped it to N; even though I was still rolling, it was silent. Once I put it back into R, the squeak came back. Does this point more towards the u joint?

same thing for me. i hated the noise so much i would back out of a parking spot halfway and then throw it in neutral and roll back the rest of the way to keep the noise to a minimum. 100% its the u-joint.

Guest · **Posted:** Mon Dec 01, 2008 8:51 pm

Not sure what your problem is but i had a noise in reverse once but it was because i didn't realize i had trac-lok and did not put any friction modifier in my rear diff when i did the diff oil change. When i put in the modifier the noise went away. Perhaps your rear diff has trac-lok and it is time to change the oil?

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Dec 01, 2008 8:54 pm

what do I keep saying................ :lol:

U-JOINTS

once you hear one sqeaking you can hear them a 1/4 mile away from then on :wink:

06 KJ Sport · **Posted:** Mon Dec 01, 2008 8:55 pm

Does the sound only happen in reverse with the wheel turned to the left?

Had the same problem, still have the same problem. The "experts" at the local rip off shop cannot fix the problem and they never will be able to from what I have herd. The noise comes from deflection in the rotor and when you back up it causes it to touch the caliper enough to make noise. I have had two new sets of pads and rotors put on by the dealership. And wouldn't you know it just the other day the noise came back again :shock:

Just my two cents

Terrible squeaking when in reverse

Who is online