Sound coming from the Rear Axel

KJColumbo · **Posted:** Mon Jun 08, 2009 10:49 am

I am thinking it is probably the howling sounds that you all are talking about, but wanted to make sure. It makes it all the time, but it is not a steady sound. Think of it like a sound wave. The slower I am going, the less frequent the sound is made. The faster I go, it eventually becomes so frequent, it seems constant.

I am thinking it is my bearings.

They were replaced just as the warr. ran out about 4 years ago. They replaced all of them in the rear. That time, it was more of a higher pitched harmonic sound. Now, it is a lower tone. I noticed it ever since I went wheeling for the first time. The idiot of a trail guide took me down some blue trails in a stock KJ with AT's at Rausch Creek, in PA. With some good spotting and driving, I made it through, but I did go through some water. I drained and refilled all the fluids from front to back, and all the internals looked good, with no wear. The water was a bit muddy looking.

With all of that said, what is everyone's feelings? I have had a few people hear it and think that it was the bearings, but just wanted to see if anyone else said had a similar issue. Originally, I was going to just get the outer bearings and seals, but a friend can get me both sets of bearings, and the outer seals for less than $40. For that, I was thinking I might as well just do them both. What do ya think?

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Mon Jun 08, 2009 1:27 pm

dude, anytime you can get parts and such for less than 40 bucks, New, Fresh parts are always a good thing!

the sound you're experiencing, it's possible it's bearings

also possible to be the rear diff but new outter bearings and fresh rear diff fluid change sounds like a good start, atleast with the fluid change you'll be able to notice if there's a ton of shaving in your housing

KJColumbo · **Posted:** Mon Jun 08, 2009 2:13 pm

Fluids were changed about a year ago, after the noise had been going for a bit, and the internals looked good, no shavings, just some nasty fluids with some Rausch water/mud. Cleaned them out, and replaced with Royal Purple.

I am kinda thinking that either the breather wasn't long enough, or if the seals might have been crap when they redid the bearings years ago. Water got in and might have fouled up the bearings.

I guess I'll go for it all, and see how easy it will be to do everything, and go from there.

icarl · **Posted:** Mon Jun 08, 2009 2:58 pm

The other thing that can cause a noise from the rear end after fluids were changed or if the fluid is old/worn is if the rear end has a trac-lok limited slip diff and the proper friction modifier amount is not present. This friction modifier needs to be put in when changing the diff fluid if you have a trac-lok lsd.

KJColumbo · **Posted:** Mon Jun 08, 2009 4:17 pm

I saw that issue was brought up in another thread. No LSD in my KJ, so looks like the bearings are still probably the issue. Hopefully the axels are marked up from it. I don't feel like replacing them while we are at it.

Sound coming from the Rear Axel

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