Grind in 4x4 only

[crashbig]

Ok I've searched hi and low and nothing matches quite what I've got going on. I'm getting a grinding noise when I turn either way in 4wd hi or low only. Every thing is smooth in 2wd. I've got a posi lock on it, if I run the transfer case in 4 hi or low it grinds with the axle unlocked. If I lock the axle with it in 2wd it grinds when turning. I jacked it up and theres no play in the front drive shaft, but there does seem to be play before the spider gears engage when spinning one tire, about 3 inches before the other tire spins is that normal? I'm leaning towards spider gears but wanted other opions before I starting yanking it apart. I just got this thing a few weeks ago and it wasn't takin care of very well, still finding things that need fixin.

89 cherokee 3in. procomp lift 33/12.50 bfg's Auto
1 in. tranny drop

 

[Darky]

How are axle ujoints? Chain in t-case?

 

[crashbig]

Axle joins seem fine,pretty caked with grease but seem tight no slop if they were bad wouldn't they grind in 2wd since their spinning all the time. I replaced fluid in t-case, chain seemed tight from what I could see in the drain hole. Dind't notice any metal fillings in old fluid. Is there a better way to check the chain.

 

[xjbrian219]

Pass side axle bearings

 

[beakie]

check the linkage for ths shifter itself.
the under body of my rig was rusted, so the linkage was loose and had some movement.
I figured the chain had stretched, t-case was done... but when I went to take it out I noticed the loose linkage, which didn't allow the t-case to go fully into 4hi-low.

something simple to look into.

 

[crashbig]

It is pretty rusty under there and I've been having issues with the regular shift linkage not going into 1-2 so I'll look and see if its loose.

 

[Speedbump96]

i 2x on the linkage i had somewhat of a similar problem

 

[crashbig]

Would having the transfer case drop on there mess with the linkage at all. Would it need to be readjusted. The way the PO took care of this thing everything is half a#@, I mean really, who installs a flowmaster backwards.

 

[GrimmJeeper]

Would having the transfer case drop on there mess with the linkage at all. Would it need to be readjusted.

yes, because you are changing the distance that the tcase itself is from the body where the linkage is mounted. You should re-adjust it.

Usually carrier bearings grind or howl when turning because you are side loading the axle and putting more force on one or the other. Have you had someone stand outside the rig while it makes the noise and tell you if they can tell where it's coming from? since the XJ is a unibody you can't really trust where you think you hear the sound coming from. Sounds will travel all through the body and fool your ears.

 

[crashbig]

Ok solved my clunking, grinding noise problem. Turns out I'm apparently a fat ass. I weigh enough to compress the suspension so that the front driveshaft hits my exhaust and it clunks or sounds like grinding. Had the wife drive it while I listened outside and noise would disappear. What the hell? Finally drove it long till it made a shiny spot on the exhaust, guess when I welded up my leak at the header I didn't get it lined up right. Glad its something simple.