Passenger Half-Axle

jimymc · **Joined:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 7:51 pm **Posts:** 248

OK, what's going on here?

Ten thousand miles ago I had the stealership replace the passenger side half axle and intermediate shaft. The intermediate shaft and half axle were so rusted that they had to drive it out from the other side. The inner CV joint went out and they replaced it under their 12K/12month warranty. It started making noise in a couple of more days and a week later I took it back to them. They said that the intermediate shaft was rusty, but they greased it and put a new half axle on. This is a week later! So they have once more replaced the half axle and intermediate shaft and said unless I lower it back to stock they can't cover it under warranty. They said that the lift was causing the problem. I picked it up and it still is making a grinding noise and the steering wobbles like something is loose up front. The CV seems tight. I have an OME lift and the distance from the center of the hub to the bottom of the flare is 21" on both sides in the front. I'm not familiar with all the internals to the front differential and how it ties to the other side. Could a bad CV on the other side or a bad bearing somewhere along the intermediate shaft be causing a wobble that destroys the CV on the passenger side? Seems like a lot of folks have lifted their Libby's at least this much without this much trouble with the passenger side CV.

HELP!!!

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 02, 2010 1:59 pm

I'd be checking the front diff mounts and yes you could possibly have a fried front diff.

And yes they have the right to deny warranty due to the lift,makes it impossible to truely diagnose the real issue.Return it to stock and get the problem fixed then re-lift.

jimymc · **Joined:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 7:51 pm **Posts:** 248

tjkj2002 wrote:

I'd be checking the front diff mounts and yes you could possibly have a fried front diff.

And yes they have the right to deny warranty due to the lift,makes it impossible to truely diagnose the real issue.Return it to stock and get the problem fixed then re-lift.

What would I have to do to check the differential? Would I be able to find something if I took the cover off and checked the internals? What should I look for?

jimymc · **Joined:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 7:51 pm **Posts:** 248

This is weird. When the Jeep is cold there is no rumbling or steering wheel shimmy. After 30 or 40 miles, when everything warms up the noise and shimmy start.

The stealership swear that it is the tires. Doesn't make sense to me. Seems like the tires would warm up pretty quickly and start to misbehave. I would think if it was a fried diff that it would do this from the start, not after 30 or 40 miles. What could this be?

You guys are usually pretty good about helping out. Only one comment???

1996xj · **Posted:** Wed Nov 03, 2010 7:44 pm

Jack up right and left lower control arm, with tire's off the ground and check for play in the front hub's !!!

jimymc · **Joined:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 7:51 pm **Posts:** 248

1996xj wrote:

Jack up right and left lower control arm, with tire's off the ground and check for play in the front hub's !!!

Thanks for the input. I already checked them and replaced the passenger side hub. It had play in it. I don't think that it was causing any noise yet, but I replaced it anyway. I'm going to have the front tires checked at the tire store for cupping and balance and see if that is causing any of the noise. If that doesn't fix it, its back to the stealership to see what they can guess next. They want to put it all on the Jeep being lifted, but that axle and intermediate shaft shouldn't be going bad in a matter of days. I'm wondering if Jeep is now buying after-market parts and the half axles are the shorter ones that I have read about in the forum. Lift + shorter axle = less spline engaged = wobbling = fast wear.

We will see.

jimymc · **Joined:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 7:51 pm **Posts:** 248

The folks at the Jeep store are saying that if I want to keep the lift that I need to have the differential lowered so that the angle of the axle is correct. Never heard of that for a Liberty. I would think if you lower the diff the drive shaft would hit the exhaust. This whole mess is getting really frustrating. If it doesn't get sorted out the Jeep is going on the sales block.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Thu Nov 04, 2010 11:36 am

jimymc wrote:

If it doesn't get sorted out the Jeep is going on the sales block.

Yeah, thats how I always fix things too.. Just sale it.. :roll:

Have you checked the joint where the intermediate shaft and CV go together that you had replaced? You said it grinds, does it get any worse if you put the jeep in 4wd? How many miles are on the Jeep?

Passenger Half-Axle

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