[Guest]

Hey all,

I looked through the searched, but didn't find anything that was exactly as my case. Perhaps I missed it, as there was a lot there, so please excuse my ignorance.

On the highway home after some thrashing my TJ on some worn logging roads, I noticed a vibration and noise. I was doing about 120 km/h. It got worse after about 5 minutes. So I figured it was rear U joints or something. So I engaged 4H to take some stress off the back end. When i did this the vibration and noise went away completely. I expected at most for it to get a little bit better.

I felt up the rear drive shaft when i got home, shaking it around and there seemed to be no lateral or vertical movement. Should there be with worn u joints?

Am i right or what? Any ideas?

Thanks.

 

[JEEPN]

I have no idea on that one, does it still do it? If it goes away completely in 4WD, then I'd say something in the transfer case, like a loose chain, slip yoke, or output bearing. But, it shouldn't completely go away, that's weird.

 

[Guest]

couldn't replicate it afterwards. Tried to with no luck. Gonna start carrying u-joints and tools to change them with me, i think.

Any other suggestions would be welcome, of course!

 

[4x4garage]

Im wondering if the was a problem when you engaged back into 2wd... then when you put it into 4h and it engaged properly then went away. Now you are moving it in and out of 2 to 4 wheel like it should... Just a thought

Scott

 

[OlllllllOCJ]

In reply to:

I was doing about 120 km/h.

[/ QUOTE ]

OK, let me get this clear in my head..... You were out on a logging trail in the mud and stuff, and then you went out on the Highway and began to run over 70 MPH with all that mud and crud still stuck in the wheels and other parts of your Jeep....... Well D'oh

Good Luck

 

[823]

concurr

 

[Guest]

OlllllllOCJ: It's not quite that easy, guys....

I was on a logging road in mud and stuff. But I had already travelled an hour and a half on paved roads in the rain, speeds ranging from 50-90km/h. Stopped at a buddy's house to watch a PPV hockey game. Then 2.5 hours later, I got on the highway at 120 on the way home. All the mud on rotational parts was long gone by that point.


4x4garage: I'm not sure that was the problem since I had gone so long in 2wd prior. But I hadn't reached the speeds of the highway run after... But if this is something that actually happens, then maybe i can put my mind at ease?? The thing is that after it went away in 4wd, it came back when i put it back in 2wd right away (putting the tranny in nuetral, letting the clutch out, then putting it back in 5th to ensure it had disengaged) and the noise came back. It wasn't until the next day that i drove around in 2wd to try to simulate the problem and try to diagnose. but there was nothing....


Any other ideas, guys?

 

[jdoggmoney]

Do you grease your joints regularly? They can cause vibrations and make noise when they get contaminated or dry and you won't feel it without taking the driveshaft out and rotating them by hand.

 

[Guest]

I haven't attempted to grease the U-Joints at all. I'll give that a go. Although I'm sure that if they're vibrating then it's already too late??

 

[LEVE]

In reply to:

I haven't attempted to grease the U-Joints at all. I'll give that a go. Although I'm sure that if they're vibrating then it's already too late??

[/ QUOTE ]1. It may be,
2. But you'll never know if you don't grease 'em.
3. Lubrication does wonders for a U-Joint!
4. But be prepared to replace 'em... just in case...

 

[JEEPN]

Generally once they start to vibrate they're toast, but a little lube may extend them a short while.

I lube mine every 5K or so, and have 218,000 on the original U-joints. I use synthetic grease.

 

[Guest]

Hmmm. These are good points. I've had my Jeep since the summer, but never thought to lube up the U Joints. To be honest I didn't think the factory joints had nipples on them...

Thanks guys. I sure hope it's only joints and nothing inside the transfercase...