Front End Popping Noise

[Jcichy71]

Was hoping to get some insight on my front end noise… be searching forums the past few hours.

2004 TJ RUBI, I recently did a bunch of front end work including front axle ujoints and im concerned maybe I did something wrong installing the axle shafts.

I have what I thought was tire noise from the cheap knockoff tires that were on it when I bought it. I had them balanced just to rule that out as well. Today I pulled into the shop and put it on jack stands to try and track it down. The D/S front tire didn’t seem to want to turn much in 4wd, almost like something was holding it back (bad bearing?) once I engaged the front locker it was turning fine just with an almost constant click.

A few times over the past month I thought I heard a slight whining noise from the front end as I’d be coming to a stop, clutch in/out had no effect and neither did in gear or neutral, thats what led me to start looking at the front end.

See attached Vid

 

[Zorba]

No vid...

 

[Jcichy71]

1

 

[Jcichy71]

2

 

[Jcichy71]

Sorry the video was too long, I posted some little clips of it

 

[Gollywomper]

I had a noise very similar. The clicking was a bit faster/more frequent during tire revolution. It turned out to be some loose spider gears. I also found a bad ring gear at the same time but that wasn’t the noise, my gear guy shimmed or did something with the spider gears while he was in there. Quiet ever since.

 

[Jcichy71]

I had a noise very similar. The clicking was a bit faster/more frequent during tire revolution. It turned out to be some loose spider gears. I also found a bad ring gear at the same time but that wasn’t the noise, my gear guy shimmed or did something with the spider gears while he was in there. Quiet ever since.

So didn’t need a full on rebuild? I have taken the diff out of my truck before to do the axle seals but if it gets to the point of setting up gears its way over my head

 

[Gollywomper]

So didn’t need a full on rebuild? I have taken the diff out of my truck before to do the axle seals but if it gets to the point of setting up gears its way over my head

In my case the gears were shot from a bad install by a previous shop. I found the gear issue while looking for the noise. Since the gears needed replacement I let the shop look for the clicking noise as well.

How many clicks per revolution is yours making? Is the noise at the same point per revolution?

 

[Jcichy71]

In my case the gears were shot from a bad install by a previous shop. I found the gear issue while looking for the noise. Since the gears needed replacement I let the shop look for the clicking noise as well.

How many clicks per revolution is yours making? Is the noise at the same point per revolution?

Im not exactly sure, thats just in first gear with the clutch out… seemed on a tempo maybe 1 click every 2 seconds or so

 

[Jcichy71]

Anybody helping on this… I popped the cover off tonight, i dont see any signs of damage or loose parts. The fluid was only a few months old and not a single shaving to be found. Pic just incase anyone sees something obvious I missed.

Spinning the tire by hand now the noise seems to be coming more towards the wheelbearing/unjoint area… both of which I recently replaced. If I had a hunch I’d say maybe I messed up the ujoint installing it, but before I replace it and re-assemble, does anyone have a sure fire way to test ujoint vs unit bearing? The wheel had no play in it at all, up and down or lateral. Thanks in advance.