Slack in front half-shaft

corwyyn · **Posted:** Sun Sep 16, 2007 10:43 pm

OK, so I went out on the dirt this afternoon and got to a section where I though I would need 4WD, so I pulled the lever into 4HI and started off. Noticed a clicking noise coming out of the front that varied with speed. Took it out of 4HI and the sound went away. When I got home this evening I took the front wheels off to see if maybe there was something loose - I had done a brake job a couple of weeks ago and wanted to make sure everything was still tight. As I was rotating the right side I could feel and hear a slight 'thunk' as I changed directions. Reached in and grabbed the housing for the inner CV joint and could move it a bit, both in and out and turning front/rear. All of the CV boots look in good shape, no oil or grease coming out.

I will mention that my engine skid has a dent in it from a good rock hit a while back, and when I'm driving it seems to transfer the sound of the front wheels and shafts turning. I'm not sure if this is just a continuation of that, but last weekend when I went up to the rim on a run I put it in 4WD and didn't notice any noise at the time.

So, any thoughts? Any other checks I can do to determine if this is a failing CV or just normal slack in the system?

Eddo · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1214

Latteral movement in the passanger side CV is normal. Everyone I've seen has quite a bit of latteral and some vertical movement if you grab the shaft. The passanger side has considerably more than the driver.

Not sure about the noise thought. I'd have to see it for myself.

lilmatty · **Posted:** Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:58 am

not a rock or nail in the tire? :wink:

JeepinMaxx · **Posted:** Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:28 am

I had that same clicking noise. Turned out to be the intermediate shaft (from the diff to the passenger side CV shaft. It has splines that the CV slides on to. The clicking is the splines out of engagement.

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:46 am

Remove your bent skid and see if that gets rid of the noise first...

BeepBeepJeepJeep · **Posted:** Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:55 am

Check the CV joint on your front drive shaft. I just replaced mine last week.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:13 pm

What did you do to those splines JeepinMaxx?

I have a clicking noise on the passenger side. It clicks anytime I turn(usually left), 2wd or 4wd.

corwyyn · **Posted:** Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:47 pm

DarbyWalters wrote:

Remove your bent skid and see if that gets rid of the noise first...

Yeah, I was planning on doing that. Just wanted to start getting some ideas about other things to check. As for rocks and such, I took both front tires off and did a visual check of everything on the front, found some mud from my trip to the rim a week ago, knocked some of that off and took it to the car wash to get the rest of it.

corwyyn · **Posted:** Tue Sep 18, 2007 4:01 am

Well, I got the skid plate partly off tonight, enough to let a good walnut-sized rock out from between it and the front diff. Now comes the joy of getting the holes lined up again to get the bolts I took out back in (did I mention my skid plate was bent? Yep, just checked and I did :wink:

) Only problem is I think I broke one of the front welded nuts off - the bolt just turns but won't come out or loosen. Guess I'll see if I can get it pried down so it tensions the nut while I try to tighten it, otherwise I'll just leave it loose...

Thanks for all the suggestions guys, glad to find a low-cost solution for this

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Tue Sep 18, 2007 8:49 am

So where was the noise coming from?

wildrussian · **Posted:** Tue Sep 18, 2007 12:33 pm

I think it was coming from a walnust sized rock that was stuck in his skid plate. I think...

corwyyn · **Posted:** Tue Sep 18, 2007 1:09 pm

wildrussian wrote:

I think it was coming from a walnust sized rock that was stuck in his skid plate. I think...

YEah, I think that's what was causing it. I'll get out and get the skid mounted back up then give it a go, if the noise is gone then I'm set.

Slack in front half-shaft

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