Whining Noise when in 4WD

[Tiger98]

I recently changed the fluid in the Dana 30 front differential and just tried using 4hi for the first time since the change. There was a whining noise like you might expect to hear from power steering when accelerating but not at idle. I don't remember there being any extra noise like that when activating 4wd before.

Also, when turning sharply, whether in 2wd or 4wd it feels like it's binding in the front as if the front wheels are being forced to go the same speed even though the outside should be spinning more, so it jumps a bit on that side. What could be causing that and the power steering noise?

 

[macleanflood]

What exactly did you put into your front diff and you filled it until it came out the hole?

Any locker?

-Mac

 

[TJuser]

Maybe check the ujoints too...mine did grinding and crunching and binding when my front right ujoint was shot....

 

[hear]

Are you on hard pavement?

 

[Tiger98]

What exactly did you put into your front diff and you filled it until it came out the hole?

Any locker?

-Mac

I put 80w-90 in. The stuff that was in there before was thick and dirty and there definitely wasn't as much as I put in so Im confused why i didn't hear the noise before but do now. I poured until it came out the fill hole. I'm not sure about a locker. It seems like that might be the case the way it binds and jumps but that might be a u joint too. I'm new to all this

 

[Tiger98]

Are you on hard pavement?

Yeah, it happens on hard pavement typically. I just engaged the 4wd to try it out because there was finally some snow

 

[Tiger98]

Maybe check the ujoints too...mine did grinding and crunching and binding when my front right ujoint was shot....

Is there a good way to check them without using a jack and spinning the tires? I won't have access to my jack and stands until later next week

 

[macleanflood]

So no noises in 2wd...only in 4wd?

I'd certainly jack up the front wheel and spin each tire listening for noises, rubbing, resistance trying to narrow down the cause.

-Mac

 

[Tiger98]

So no noises in 2wd...only in 4wd?

I'd certainly jack up the front wheel and spin each tire listening for noises, rubbing, resistance trying to narrow down the cause.

-Mac

Yeah, no noise in 2wd. As soon as I accelerate in 4wd I can hear it. It's like that power steering sound when someone is turning the wheels. I'll check the u joints once I can get back to my jack and stands. Is there a way to check if I have a locker? I'm not familiar with those.

 

[macleanflood]

Not definitively without pulling the cover.

You can try some things with the front axle up...open diff usually when you turn a tire by hand will spin the other wheel the opposite direction.

You could try pulling the front driveshaft to see if the noise is coming from the transfer case...but I don't think that'll get you anything...but...

I also doubt the u joints are in play since the entire front axle and driveshaft spin to the transfer case all the time.

How's the fluid level in your transfer case? How's it look? Even drain and fill it? Notice any leaks? They're notorious for torn o rings around the speedo gear on the back and loosing fluid...some...

-Mac

 

[Tiger98]

Not definitively without pulling the cover.

You can try some things with the front axle up...open diff usually when you turn a tire by hand will spin the other wheel the opposite direction.

You could try pulling the front driveshaft to see if the noise is coming from the transfer case...but I don't think that'll get you anything...but...

I also doubt the u joints are in play since the entire front axle and driveshaft spin to the transfer case all the time.

How's the fluid level in your transfer case? How's it look? Even drain and fill it? Notice any leaks? They're notorious for torn o rings around the speedo gear on the back and loosing fluid...some...

-Mac

I'll try the tire spin test. Or just have the mechanic doing the alignment in a few days look at it.

The only reason I think there might be a u joint issue if it's not locked is because even in 2wd, if I'm turning sharply like in a parking lot I can hear and feel it binding up and jumping as if it's locked.

I just changed the transfer case fluid right before I did the front differential. It's just under 2 quarts of atf+4. I couldn't get the fill plug off because someone had welded something over it so I had to fill through the speedo gear. There was a small leak from the output seal so I got a new seal. It hasn't leaked since buying that lol. It does need a new speedo gear o ring.

 

[TJuser]

Is there a good way to check them without using a jack and spinning the tires? I won't have access to my jack and stands until later next week

You'd definitely want to check by spinning the wheel but take a look at them...there shouldn't be any space at all between the bearing caps and the holes in the yoke

 

[Tiger98]

I'm wondering if the previous owner put a locker in the front differential to make it a Rubicon. Because the vin is an SE but it has a 4.0l, low gearing, 33"tires, an 8.8 rear end, and Rubicon decals on either side.