Returning angry sparrows noise

DropTopDon

TJ Enthusiast
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Had the angry sparrows noise a couple months ago and since then rebuilt my front driveshaft with new u-joints and centering yoke kit from Spicer. Installed it about a month or two ago and I would always here small noises here and there coming from front driveshaft but never the loud squealing noise it made before. I recently went off roading (minimal mud and no water) and since then the loud squealing noise has returned whenever I am going under 35 mph. Anyone have any advice?
 
Did you add grease to the "new" ball centering yoke? My experience has been that the slight noises are an indication of needing new grease. When I hear those, I pull the shaft, add grease, noises gone till next time.
 
Did you add grease to the "new" ball centering yoke? My experience has been that the slight noises are an indication of needing new grease. When I hear those, I pull the shaft, add grease, noises gone till next time.
I planned on adding grease but it already had a considerable blob of grease in it coming out of the package so I didn't add anymore. So you are suggesting I should just pull the front shaft again and check/add grease in the centering yoke?
 
I planned on adding grease but it already had a considerable blob of grease in it coming out of the package so I didn't add anymore. So you are suggesting I should just pull the front shaft again and check/add grease in the centering yoke?
That's what I would do if they were my angry sparrows. Also verify that each U-joint is well lubed.
 
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Was the centering ball stud within spec? Going from memory I think it’s .51. If that is worn down it will wear out the centering ball in short order
 
Was the centering ball stud within spec? Going from memory I think it’s .51. If that is worn down it will wear out the centering ball in short order
Any idea that the tolerance/ variation might be on this spec?
 
Curious as well. The stud on my Tom Wood shaft is 0.48 something.
I’m just going by memory, it’s been a minute I thought it was .51, not sure what tolerance is. I have seen them pretty chewed up. I assume yours is within spec if it’s a Tom’s wood shaft, but in the case of the OP, it could be way out of spec. I’ve seen them all sorts of mangled. Only fix is to cut off and weld new on. Which if that is the case, I just would get a new shaft. By the time you add up all the joints, centering ball and welding on a stud it’s a wash
 
Only fix is to cut off and weld new on. Which if that is the case, I just would get a new shaft. By the time you add up all the joints, centering ball and welding on a stud it’s a wash

I had a quote from a local driveline shop to repair a mangled stud and it was $200 if I remember. Agree that a new one makes more since in this case
 
The attached photo shows the stud/pin people are talking about. It is the thing that goes into the hole in the ball on the socket yoke. It should be exactly 0.500" in diameter. In my opinion, measuring it is not as critical as visually examining it. When they are worn they will typically be visibly worn. This could be in the form of the following.
  • Tapering. The pin should be perfectly cylindrical and not conical or tapered.
  • Notching. The needle bearings of the socket yoke can wear grooves into the pin. This is usually visible but is also easy to feel with your fingers.
  • Needle bearings in the socket yoke are dry, rusty, or ground to dust upon removal of the old socket yoke. Bad wear on the socket yoke / centering ball is what causes wear on the pin. If you catch the socket yoke early enough it is not likely to do damage to the pin.
  • Heat discoloration. These things are shiny silver color when new. dark heat discoloration is usually a sign wear has taken place.
If it's anything other than a smooth looking and feeling shiny cylinder then it is time to get out the calipers and measure it.

cv pin.jpg
 
Remove shaft and inspect as suggested above. If it all feels good I would test drive it before disassembling it. Just to verify your working on the correct components.
 
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The attached photo shows the stud/pin people are talking about. It is the thing that goes into the hole in the ball on the socket yoke. It should be exactly 0.500" in diameter. In my opinion, measuring it is not as critical as visually examining it. When they are worn they will typically be visibly worn. This could be in the form of the following.
  • Tapering. The pin should be perfectly cylindrical and not conical or tapered.
  • Notching. The needle bearings of the socket yoke can wear grooves into the pin. This is usually visible but is also easy to feel with your fingers.
  • Needle bearings in the socket yoke are dry, rusty, or ground to dust upon removal of the old socket yoke. Bad wear on the socket yoke / centering ball is what causes wear on the pin. If you catch the socket yoke early enough it is not likely to do damage to the pin.
  • Heat discoloration. These things are shiny silver color when new. dark heat discoloration is usually a sign wear has taken place.
If it's anything other than a smooth looking and feeling shiny cylinder then it is time to get out the calipers and measure it.

View attachment 325846
Very helpful, as usual. Thanks for weighing in on this, Shawn.
 
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Had the angry sparrows noise a couple months ago and since then rebuilt my front driveshaft with new u-joints and centering yoke kit from Spicer. Installed it about a month or two ago and I would always here small noises here and there coming from front driveshaft but never the loud squealing noise it made before. I recently went off roading (minimal mud and no water) and since then the loud squealing noise has returned whenever I am going under 35 mph. Anyone have any advice?

Unless I missed it, you didn't say anything about replacing your front axle U Joints.

It's making a similar noise to one that was fixed by replacing driveshaft U Joints, correct? And you say it's coming from the front axle area, correct? And you have 2 front axle U Joints that have not been replaced?

So, how are your front axle U Joints?

Most "angry sparrow" noises are attributed to a bad OPDA. Could that be your issue?
 
Unless I missed it, you didn't say anything about replacing your front axle U Joints.

It's making a similar noise to one that was fixed by replacing driveshaft U Joints, correct? And you say it's coming from the front axle area, correct? And you have 2 front axle U Joints that have not been replaced?

So, how are your front axle U Joints?

Most "angry sparrow" noises are attributed to a bad OPDA. Could that be your issue?
Axle U-joints typically make a different sound when they get worn. More of a clicking or popping sound, more prevalent when steering thru turns.
 
Axle U-joints typically make a different sound when they get worn. More of a clicking or popping sound, more prevalent when steering thru turns.

If you say so. I've seen totally shot front axle U Joints that make no noise most of the time. YMMV

I would still argue that it's totally worth looking at the front axle U Joints. It's free to check and takes <1 minute. What to you have to lose by checking? Best to eliminate the most obvious thing that was not addressed along with the original problem.

Seems like undue focus is on the brand new parts that were used to fix the original problem. Seems more likely that the OP is describing a new problem that by coincidence has similar symptoms to the problem that was already resolved.

Barking up the wrong U Joints perhaps?
 
If you say so. I've seen totally shot front axle U Joints that make no noise most of the time. YMMV

I would still argue that it's totally worth looking at the front axle U Joints. It's free to check and takes <1 minute. What to you have to lose by checking? Best to eliminate the most obvious thing that was not addressed along with the original problem.

Seems like undue focus is on the brand new parts that were used to fix the original problem. Seems more likely that the OP is describing a new problem that by coincidence has similar symptoms to the problem that was already resolved.

Barking up the wrong U Joints perhaps?
Will check the front axle U-Joints but I know the sound is coming from the front driveshaft because when I pull the shaft the sound goes away.


Gonna pull the shaft today and take it apart when I get time. I will report back with my findings after.
 
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