Noise in the front end.

jmac · **Posted:** Thu Jun 23, 2011 6:27 pm

Hello all.Let me start out by saying great site,lots of good info.

I have a few questions.I have been trying to track down a front end noise.It sounds like tire hum but a bit louder.It is in sync with wheel speed not engine rpm.

This is on a 05 crd with 100k on it.

I have had it in the air checking things several times,and have not found anything obvious.I did notice that when I spin the front wheel the front drive shaft turns.Is this normal?I know on my truck it does not.I have been thinking about removing the front drive shaft,and going for a drive just to eliminate something.The cv boots look good,but is there a way to check them with out dismantling.If you guys think of anything I should check under there,I would love to here it.

Thanks in advance.

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Thu Jun 23, 2011 11:30 pm

There's a U-Joint on the front driveshaft...check that.

jmac · **Posted:** Fri Jun 24, 2011 12:05 am

I will put that on the list.I did have to replace both the rear U joints last fall.

If it turns all the time that would make sense.

ridenby · **Posted:** Fri Jun 24, 2011 1:16 am

yellocoyote wrote:

blackwidowkj06 wrote:

There's a U-Joint on the front driveshaft...check that.

Nope. Not a u-joint on the front driveshaft. CV joints on both front differential end and transfer case end. The common failure spot on the front driveshaft is the cv end that attaches to the transfer case... the boot gets bad/torn/disintegrated... and you lose the grease within, making for premature failure of the joint. A new cv end for the driveshaft can be installed in place of the old, failed end for around $80.

And yes, it's normal for your front driveshaft to turn when your front wheels are turning.

As far as the noise you're hearing, you may have the start of a failed wheel bearing or it may be a CV joint/axle and intermediate shaft issue. I've had both of those noises from both failed components in my KJ before. Unfortunately, the cv axle vs. intermediate shaft issue isn't obvious without either separating the cv from the intermediate shaft for examination (and at that point, why not just replace it), or near complete failure of the intermediate shaft splines.

A bad wheel bearing/hub can also be difficult to diagnose... it can be bad even without obvious play. Because the bearings are sealed units, you can't repack them. The hub would have to be replaced (luckily, it's not a difficult job to do in the driveway).

That's where I would start looking.

X2

LetFreedomRing · **Joined:** Mon Jun 28, 2010 8:51 am **Posts:** 268

I'm having a similar issue. Although mine is more pronounced when turning left at slow speeds. (Coming from front passenger side) I just replaced both front wheel bearings with timken bearings but the noise is still there. So I'm thinking intermediate shaft and CV? How easy does the intermediate shaft come out?

jmac · **Posted:** Fri Jun 24, 2011 10:52 am

Thanks for the quick replies.I guess I know what I'll bedoing tomorrow.I was thinking wheel bearing,but I did not notice any play in the wheel.It did seem like it had a little to much resistence when spinning the wheel,but I can't realy say I know what it is supposed to feel like.

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 24, 2011 12:33 pm

yellocoyote wrote:

Nope. Not a u-joint on the front driveshaft.

Was thinking of something else

ihatemybike · **Posted:** Fri Jun 24, 2011 2:37 pm

blackwidowkj06 wrote:

yellocoyote wrote:

Nope. Not a u-joint on the front driveshaft.

Was thinking of something else

What were you thinking of?

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 24, 2011 2:54 pm

ihatemybike wrote:

blackwidowkj06 wrote:

yellocoyote wrote:

Nope. Not a u-joint on the front driveshaft.

Was thinking of something else

What were you thinking of?

Picture later...I need to eat

Donnie · **Posted:** Fri Jun 24, 2011 9:12 pm

LetFreedomRing wrote:

I'm having a similar issue. Although mine is more pronounced when turning left at slow speeds. (Coming from front passenger side) I just replaced both front wheel bearings with timken bearings but the noise is still there. So I'm thinking intermediate shaft and CV? How easy does the intermediate shaft come out?

I had the same noise, it was the intermediate shaft and CV. I had it done at a shop, but supposedly it is a pain in the neck.

LetFreedomRing · **Joined:** Mon Jun 28, 2010 8:51 am **Posts:** 268

Donnie wrote:

LetFreedomRing wrote:

I'm having a similar issue. Although mine is more pronounced when turning left at slow speeds. (Coming from front passenger side) I just replaced both front wheel bearings with timken bearings but the noise is still there. So I'm thinking intermediate shaft and CV? How easy does the intermediate shaft come out?

I had the same noise, it was the intermediate shaft and CV. I had it done at a shop, but supposedly it is a pain in the neck.

Cool! Now I have another thing to save up for! :banghead:

ihatemybike · **Posted:** Sun Jun 26, 2011 11:07 pm

Donnie wrote:

I had the same noise, it was the intermediate shaft and CV. I had it done at a shop, but supposedly it is a pain in the neck.

Been in there many times, they really aren't that bad.

LetFreedomRing · **Joined:** Mon Jun 28, 2010 8:51 am **Posts:** 268

Just curious of some intermediate shaft symptoms. Mine seems to change with noise if the suspension is cycled(braking hard to compress the front.) Also, it seems to get louder and more pronounced the longer I drive. (Heating up?)

Do these still sound like an intermediate shaft? What were some of you guy's symptoms?

Qjeorge · **Joined:** Mon Jun 27, 2011 11:06 am **Posts:** 4

First posting and hello to everyone.

I've been lurking trying to get information regarding this issue as i'm having the same problem with the right front. I already put in 3 hubbearings to no avail. Sounds like I should check the CV axle and intermidiate shaft. I will post the results after I have the time and money to do the job. Thanks to this site and everyone for your input.

Black 06 sport.
Lancaster, Pa.

hubbace · **Posted:** Mon Nov 25, 2013 11:00 am

My libby was making all of the same sounds everyone is describing, rattling intermitent, every now and then clunk. I was sure it was an intermediate shaft or wheel bearing. WRONG. I found out the old fashioned was, catastrophic part failure, going down the road at 65mph, the Front driveshaft CV head on the T-case seperated. Was able to get it off the road and stopped before any additional damage. Thankfully had a set of wrenches and was able to yank the shaft off on the side of the road at 5am and get back under way [headed to duck hunt], sans 4 wheel drive. I am going to be replacing the CV head unit as it appears to be a pretty straight forward process. Just thought I'd share.

flman · **Posted:** Mon Nov 25, 2013 6:11 pm

Rotate the tires front to back and see if it changes things?

My Bridgestone Revos were terrible.

Brianawd · **Joined:** Wed Apr 03, 2013 12:59 pm **Posts:** 130

I had the same issue people are describing. Mine ended up being the front drive shaft rear CV. I pulled the shaft and put a new CV on both the front and rear. Noise was gone after that. Front CV looked good but the back was for sure toast. The boot was all torn up and starting to melt because the cv was getting so hot due to lack of grease.

Topan · **Posted:** Wed Nov 27, 2013 12:21 pm

Hi, I just had my mechanic on the phone and he told me i had to replace the Intermediate shaft and cv. He is scared that the front axle itself is damaged...
The noise on the last miles was terrible. i run them with the GoPro underneath but oriented towards the rear axle. the problem is at the front so i saw nothing.

does anyone know what brand to order from ? which one to avoid ?
a bit like Timken and non-Timken for the wheel hubs ?

.....men ! this one is going to cost me an arm and a leg !!..... :grim:

Topan · **Posted:** Thu Nov 28, 2013 3:03 am

I have found this shaft made by EMPI.
it's cheap, around 170$....for European price standards.
Does anyone know that brand, is it solid ?

racertracer · **Posted:** Thu Nov 28, 2013 9:45 am

I am experiencing a similar noise and I am not sure where it derives from, so I'll begin by checking the wheel hubs.

Can the CV joints be repacked with grease as a preventive / maintenance measure while they are still on the vehicle?

I had a VW Jetta long ago that had a loud CV joint problem. I repaired the CV joint in the driveway without removing it from the vehicle by using a Constant Velocity joint repair kit. Not sure if they are still available.

It worked like this: The old rubber boot had to be cut away and discarded so that the trapped dirt and pebbles inside the joint could be washed away from the ball bearings while manually turning the wheels, then repacked with grease and then a new split rubber boot was clamped in place and glued at the split.

The new boot was cut on one side then glued and clamped.

This was a very economical way to fix the CV joint, I did it in my driveway, the noise was gone after that and never returned.

If a kit like this were available for our CRD, it would be a simple economical way to repair the problem, that is if the joint hasn't already reached a point of no return.

Just thinking of ways in keeping the maintenance costs down on this middle aged CRD cash hog

Noise in the front end.

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