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I just can't pinpoint that noise...

Alienspecimen

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Best Coast RI
99XJ 4WD 4.0 195K

For the last couple of years, I have slowly developed this noise/vibration that sounds like a driveshaft out of balance. The frequency of vibration increases as the speed of the car increase.

When it was barely detectable, the noise/vibe seemed to come from the shaft that connects the transfer case to the front axle. Now I am not so sure. I don't feel/hear much when my foot is on the pedal i.e. I accelerate/cruise, but it is really obnoxious when I drive downhill or any time I take my foot off the gas pedal.

I asked my son to drive it around and all I can hear from outside is something like a bad strut squeak from the rear driver tire. It definitely does not sound like a shaft out of balance.

Any ideas what I should be looking at?

Thanks in advance.

Best

Boris

P.S. My Rancho 9000's are about three years old and I also rocked the car while parked, my struts are not the source of the noise.



I know for a fact that this is not a strut, since my Ranch 9000's are less than three years old. I also rocked the car and cannot hear a squeak, so it is not the strut.
 
If you think it is the front shaft take it out. Then drive it again. Simple way to find out. Maybe a bad hub bearing. Have you ever changed your diff fluid? Any large anound of metal residue in there? If never done or even checked you may be really low or empty then you bearing will be toast with no oil.
 
If you think it is the front shaft take it out. Then drive it again. Simple way to find out. Maybe a bad hub bearing. Have you ever changed your diff fluid? Any large anound of metal residue in there? If never done or even checked you may be really low or empty then you bearing will be toast with no oil.

Thanks for your reply.

I changed the hub bearings along with the u-joints, disks and calipers last year. Differential fluid is couple of months old and there weren't any chips or shavings in the old fluid.
 
I'm in the process of regearing the XJ to 4.56s. It's had drive line noises for a long time.
Pulled the front driveshaft a couple days ago, no change. Yesterday, I removed the front axle shafts, replacing them with a pair of just outer shafts, used to hold the hubs together. Took it out for a drive and the noise was gone.
Took the front cover off today and unbolted the carrier which immediately fell out on its own. The carrier bearings had no pre-load on them. No wonder the axle made so much noise
The guy who installed the 4.11s several years ago did a fine job...of screwing it up. No wonder he is out of business.
Moral of the story, noises can be tough to track down.
 
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