Looking for help identifying sound from front axle area

GregBelleville

GregBelleville

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I've been hearing this sound for several months now and it has gotten progressively louder. I'll describe it best I can as a ratcheting sound that begins when I accelerate from a stop. The sound is worse when the Jeep is cold and gets quieter once it's been driven a while. This sound also presents itself over uneven pavement.

My first thought was the front driveshaft, so I disconnected it at the axle and test drove it. Sound did not go away.

I'm posting a video of it, you can hear it begin at 2 seconds for a brief second or two.

Would appreciate any advice on what else I should be looking at for a sound like this.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/r4jEEuCtTNzXYzwf9
 
Dang greg. Where does it sound like its coming from? It sounds like some dick hid maracas 🪇 under your jeep?
Sambaballen.jpeg
 
Jeep Wrangler Wheel Hub Failure Symptoms
  1. Steering wheel vibration.
  2. Grinding or humming noise when driving.
  3. Knocking or clunking noise when cornering.
  4. Pulling to one side when driving.
  5. Uneven tire wear.
  6. Play in wheel bearing
 
Havasu said:
Jeep Wrangler Wheel Hub Failure Symptoms
  1. Steering wheel vibration.
  2. Grinding or humming noise when driving.
  3. Knocking or clunking noise when cornering.
  4. Pulling to one side when driving.
  5. Uneven tire wear.
  6. Play in wheel bearing
Click to expand...

I'll look into this, the only symptom I have on that list is the noise, but this seems like a possibility that I'd want to rule out.
 
GregBelleville said:
I haven't tried to, are you saying lift all 4 corners and drive it on stands or throw the front end up and try to replicate sound rotating tires by hand?
Click to expand...

If it were me I'd try rotating by hand first, and if that didn't yield anything I would try it in gear with all 4 corners up, taking the proper precautions of course.
 
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Havasu said:
Here’s previous thread addressing what your looking at
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/signs-of-a-bad-wheel-bearing.10768/
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link to that thread. So after work tonight I got kicked out of the house by the wife because her girlfriends were coming over, worked out perfect.

I lifted each side of the Jeep one side at a time. Starting with the driver side I attempted to move the tire laterally by grabbing it at 10 and 4. Admittedly I'm a first timer but I detected no lateral play (front to back). I also grabbed at 12 and 6 pulling in/out and detected no play. I spun the tire by hand listening for off sounds and heard nothing.

Next I set up camera and recorded the ball joint area while lifting the tire vertically with a pole I had lying around. I saw no visible play on the driver side... Now the passenger side is another matter. I went thru the same procedure and found the following issues:

1. When I spin the tire there is an audible click, I've attached video of this sound.
2. When prying the tire vertically I see visible play in the ball joint, I've attached video of this as well.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/6HfWZbTP7e68J6G26

So as of now I'm guessing passenger side ball joint needs replacement. If I'm doing one side Is it recommended to just do both?

Does the clicking sound while spinning by hand and the sound in the driving video sound like a possible ball joint failure, or maybe also a bad wheel bearing?

Appreciate the trained ears and suggestions fellas. 🍻
 
I would put new spicer balljoints in both sides. I also highly doubt ball joints will make a rotational clicking sound. Get under there,spin the tires and chase the sound. It should be easy to see if it is the bearing,ujoint,inside the diff or driveshaft. Especially as you dissassemble for balljoints
 
Rickyd said:
I would put new spicer balljoints in both sides. I also highly doubt ball joints will make a rotational clicking sound. Get under there,spin the tires and chase the sound. It should be easy to see if it is the bearing,ujoint,inside the diff or driveshaft. Especially as you dissassemble for balljoints
Click to expand...

I agree, replace both. Might as well do uppers and lowers on both sides while you've got it all apart. And as Rickyd said, check the axle u-joints too.
 
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Havasu said:
Wheel bearing because ball joints are not moving while spinning a wheel/tire while it’s on a jack
Click to expand...

Agreed, but he has already observed movement on one of the ball joints, so they need to be replaced even if they are not the source of the noise.
 
This is quickly turning into a front end refresh.

This is the wheel bearing I'm looking at:

Timken 513084 Axle Bearing and Hub Assembly https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BZ4ZZU/?tag=wranglerorg-20


Ball joints
Spicer 706944X Suspension Ball Joint Kit, Regular https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007N6OHI0/?tag=wranglerorg-20

U joints
Rickyd said:
If you don't know the ujoint condition it would be a good time to replace them with spicers too
Click to expand...

Are these the correct u joints?

Spicer 5-760X U-Joint Kit 1310WJ Series (ISR) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009X1XDZG/?tag=wranglerorg-20

Anything else I should consider doing while I'm already in there?
 
GregBelleville said:
This is quickly turning into a front end refresh.

This is the wheel bearing I'm looking at:

Timken 513084 Axle Bearing and Hub Assembly https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BZ4ZZU/?tag=wranglerorg-20


Ball joints
Spicer 706944X Suspension Ball Joint Kit, Regular https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007N6OHI0/?tag=wranglerorg-20

U joints


Are these the correct u joints?

Spicer 5-760X U-Joint Kit 1310WJ Series (ISR) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009X1XDZG/?tag=wranglerorg-20

Anything else I should consider doing while I'm already in there?
Click to expand...

You might consider getting parts from somewhere other than amazon or ebay. There might be some counterfeit parts out there.

I would trust a place like dennys driveshafts much more
 
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