It drives straight under power, drifts right while coasting.

[jmsull]

So yeah, as stated my 99' drives straight under power but while coasting it drifts to the right. I have the 242, it is less severe when I have it in Full-Time. I know my seals on my rear axle are shot. This all became very noticeable on a 1000 mile trip the other week. Lots of diff fluid/grease all over the wheels, more on the pass side.

I'm thinking wheel bearing (and seals obviously). This make sense, any other ideas?

 

[jmsull]

btt

 

[AZ Jeff]

So yeah, as stated my 99' drives straight under power but while coasting it drifts to the right. I have the 242, it is less severe when I have it in Full-Time. I know my seals on my rear axle are shot. This all became very noticeable on a 1000 mile trip the other week. Lots of diff fluid/grease all over the wheels, more on the pass side.

I'm thinking wheel bearing (and seals obviously). This make sense, any other ideas?

I have never heard of drift being a symptom of axle component failure. (Axle location bolt stretch/failure will cause drift.)

IF you have leakds, then it's time to get under the XJ, and figure out what's leaking.

 

[jmsull]

I know whats leaking, the outer seals on the axle.

 

[AZ Jeff]

I know whats leaking, the outer seals on the axle.

Gotcha. I think your seal failures and your drift issue are coincidental.

 

[jmsull]

do you think a bad wheel bearing would cause the drift?

my thinking is that the rear passenger outer axle bearing is shot, or at the very least not working properly. as a result it is creating drag, but only on the pass side, hence the drift to the right while coasting. but then I figure when it is under acceleration, it is enough to overcome the drag and it drives straight.

does this make sence or am I reaching here?

 

[vertigospiral88]

Getting any noise from the wheel bearing? I would think that it would pull even under acceleration if it was really shot....

 

[jmsull]

nope, quiet all around

 

[vertigospiral88]

How long have you been having the problem (drifting, that is)? Sounds like an alignment issue, when's the last time you had it checked?

 

[Tally_XJ]

Its been awhile but I think I remember mine did this when my control arm bushings were worn out.

 

[AZ Jeff]

I had a wheel bearing go bad on my 8.25. FYI, it was TOUGH to diagnose. It manifested itself as follows:
1. no change in tone/level when loaded or unloaded in side to side manuevers (very strange to not see that in a wheel bearing)
2. increase in volume/tone as speed increased
3. decrease in volume when weight was taken off axle (like when going over a dip in the road).
4. no discernable difference in noise from one side of the axle to the other, even when riding in the back seat and listening over both wheel wells
5. no change in volume/tone under drive, float or coast.

When I finally pulled the axle shafts, one of the shafts was "brinnelled" where is rides on the bearing. Replacing the shaft, and the bearing, solved the problem.

Does your axle have any of these symptoms? If not, then it's probably not a wheel bearing causing the drift.

How about another suggestion--swap your tires front to back and side to side, and see what happens to the drift.

 

[langer1]

straight under power but while coasting it drifts to the right

Generaly thats caused by a broken center pin allowing the axle to twist.

 

[AZ Jeff]

Generaly thats caused by a broken center pin allowing the axle to twist.

I guess I just learned something new...............Thanks, Langer1

 

[langer1]

I guess I just learned something new...............Thanks, Langer1

If you look closely at the spring perchs you should see where it's been shifting slightly, even a 1/4 will do it.

 

[footdale]

Our VW Jetta is doing the exact same thing right now. I've recently gotten new balanced tires all around and aligned and the symptoms are still there. I suspect it is a wheel bearing or something up front, just haven't lifted and checked out the front end yet. I know you suspect the rear because of the leak and all, but you should check out the front end if you haven't done so already.

 

[jmsull]

Generaly thats caused by a broken center pin allowing the axle to twist.

Are you talking about the the pin that holds the sping pack together?

 

[jmsull]

BTT

looked at the pins in the spring pack, they look fine. any other ideas?

 

[jmsull]

I found half the problem. My alignment was WAAAYYYYYY off. I fell like an idiot for not checking it first. I had a massive amount of toe in. Any way I straightened that out, and the problem is much less severe. I still have some slop in the steering, but my steering box is leaking all over so I assume that is the culprit.