Grind/Click Sound - Front Axle

On Wed, 13 Jun 2007 13:09:04 GMT, RoyJ > wrote:

>First thing I'd look at is the steering knuckle U-joint. Look for a
>trace of rust around the rim of the rubber seal on the joint cups. Jack
>it up, put transfer case in 4wd, try turning the wheel back and forth
>see if you get ANY play in the joint. Mike mentioned cutting it hard, do
>that both left and right.
>
>If you recently replaced the hub, replacing the U-joint should take
>less than an hour. On a 10 year old vehicle, you are about due.
>
wrote:
>> 97XJ Sport w/Dana 30 front axle. Noticed a few days ago an unusual
>> noise during slow speed tight turns. Parked the Jeep and used the
>> daughters car to finish up last week of work. Now that I'm on
>> vacation, I jacked up the jeep yesterday, and it sounded like the
>> brake pads ( the vehicle was inspected a couple of months back, and
>> they passed it with a note that the pads would need to be replaced
>> soon). So, wife drives into the city and picks up new pads on her way
>> home from work. I replace them, and I'm still getting the noise on the
>> passenger side when I spin the tire. Does it with the vehicle lifted
>> and when the tires are straight. This same noise was also made when
>> the vehicle was on the ground/stationary, and turning the steering. I
>> replaced the hub assy last fall. I looked at the u-joint, and didn't
>> notice any play...but, I know looks can be deceiving.
>>
>> Any thoughts? Am I looking at replacing the u-joint, or do I
>> have a defective hub assy?
>>
>> Thnks,
>> Eric in NNY

Thanks all for the replies. The "knuckles" were replaced 4 years ago,
but with the jeep being in 4WD 6 months out of the year, it's quite
possible that they have run their course. I did see what looks to
be like rust dust, but will have to pull the axle out to get a better
look. If it needs a new part, might as well do it now before winter
set's in!

V/R,
Eric in NNY

wrote:
> On Wed, 13 Jun 2007 13:09:04 GMT, RoyJ > wrote:
>
>> First thing I'd look at is the steering knuckle U-joint. Look for a
>> trace of rust around the rim of the rubber seal on the joint cups. Jack
>> it up, put transfer case in 4wd, try turning the wheel back and forth
>> see if you get ANY play in the joint. Mike mentioned cutting it hard, do
>> that both left and right.
>>
>> If you recently replaced the hub, replacing the U-joint should take
>> less than an hour. On a 10 year old vehicle, you are about due.
>>
>> wrote:
>>> 97XJ Sport w/Dana 30 front axle. Noticed a few days ago an unusual
>>> noise during slow speed tight turns. Parked the Jeep and used the
>>> daughters car to finish up last week of work. Now that I'm on
>>> vacation, I jacked up the jeep yesterday, and it sounded like the
>>> brake pads ( the vehicle was inspected a couple of months back, and
>>> they passed it with a note that the pads would need to be replaced
>>> soon). So, wife drives into the city and picks up new pads on her way
>>> home from work. I replace them, and I'm still getting the noise on the
>>> passenger side when I spin the tire. Does it with the vehicle lifted
>>> and when the tires are straight. This same noise was also made when
>>> the vehicle was on the ground/stationary, and turning the steering. I
>>> replaced the hub assy last fall. I looked at the u-joint, and didn't
>>> notice any play...but, I know looks can be deceiving.
>>>
>>> Any thoughts? Am I looking at replacing the u-joint, or do I
>>> have a defective hub assy?
>>>
>>> Thnks,
>>> Eric in NNY
>
> Thanks all for the replies. The "knuckles" were replaced 4 years ago,
> but with the jeep being in 4WD 6 months out of the year, it's quite
> possible that they have run their course. I did see what looks to
> be like rust dust, but will have to pull the axle out to get a better
> look. If it needs a new part, might as well do it now before winter
> set's in!
>
> V/R,
> Eric in NNY

Just an FYI for you. The non grease 'heavy duty' 'lifetime' u-joints
only last me about a year up here in Canada where/when we see lots of
water crossings and mud bogs. There is no way to pump the water out of
them after a run so they just rot. Some on the XJ were done in 8 months.

I installed about a dozen of the SOB's on both Jeeps, then figured out I
got suckered for marketing hype and they were total garbage parts.
Apparently they work only for desert rats that never see water.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile...
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

On Wed, 13 Jun 2007 10:53:30 -0400, Mike Romain >
wrote:

wrote:
>> On Wed, 13 Jun 2007 13:09:04 GMT, RoyJ > wrote:
>>
>>> First thing I'd look at is the steering knuckle U-joint. Look for a
>>> trace of rust around the rim of the rubber seal on the joint cups. Jack
>>> it up, put transfer case in 4wd, try turning the wheel back and forth
>>> see if you get ANY play in the joint. Mike mentioned cutting it hard, do
>>> that both left and right.
>>>
>>> If you recently replaced the hub, replacing the U-joint should take
>>> less than an hour. On a 10 year old vehicle, you are about due.
>>>
>>> wrote:
>>>> 97XJ Sport w/Dana 30 front axle. Noticed a few days ago an unusual
>>>> noise during slow speed tight turns. Parked the Jeep and used the
>>>> daughters car to finish up last week of work. Now that I'm on
>>>> vacation, I jacked up the jeep yesterday, and it sounded like the
>>>> brake pads ( the vehicle was inspected a couple of months back, and
>>>> they passed it with a note that the pads would need to be replaced
>>>> soon). So, wife drives into the city and picks up new pads on her way
>>>> home from work. I replace them, and I'm still getting the noise on the
>>>> passenger side when I spin the tire. Does it with the vehicle lifted
>>>> and when the tires are straight. This same noise was also made when
>>>> the vehicle was on the ground/stationary, and turning the steering. I
>>>> replaced the hub assy last fall. I looked at the u-joint, and didn't
>>>> notice any play...but, I know looks can be deceiving.
>>>>
>>>> Any thoughts? Am I looking at replacing the u-joint, or do I
>>>> have a defective hub assy?
>>>>
>>>> Thnks,
>>>> Eric in NNY
>>
>> Thanks all for the replies. The "knuckles" were replaced 4 years ago,
>> but with the jeep being in 4WD 6 months out of the year, it's quite
>> possible that they have run their course. I did see what looks to
>> be like rust dust, but will have to pull the axle out to get a better
>> look. If it needs a new part, might as well do it now before winter
>> set's in!
>>
>> V/R,
>> Eric in NNY
>
>Just an FYI for you. The non grease 'heavy duty' 'lifetime' u-joints
>only last me about a year up here in Canada where/when we see lots of
>water crossings and mud bogs. There is no way to pump the water out of
>them after a run so they just rot. Some on the XJ were done in 8 months.
>
>I installed about a dozen of the SOB's on both Jeeps, then figured out I
>got suckered for marketing hype and they were total garbage parts.
>Apparently they work only for desert rats that never see water.
>
>Mike
>86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
>88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile...
>Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
>Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
>(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

Mike (& group),
Well, I pulled out the tools, jacked the XJ back up, and when I
pulled out the half shaft, I heard the noise as it slid out. It was
the u-joint! SOB made a nasty sound as the joint moved left to right
direction, and couldn't get it to move "freely" in the up/down.
Lucked out with my neighbor being home, so he helped me pop
out the bugger. Bearings in one of the cups were nothing but
dust, and the other three had bearings that were covered in rust dust!
So, now to find a local auto parts store that has the greasable ones
in stock, else it's down to the city.

Yeah, we get our fair share of snow (200+ inches annually) each
winter, and all the state maintained roads are heavily salted during
the snow removal process. So, I feel for my fellow "neighbors" in
the great white north, as well as the great lake states!

Well off to parts land!

Thanks again for all those suggestions...I knew one of them would be
the answer!

V/R,
Eric in NNY