Sponsors

88limited · 03-04-2009, 09:39 PM

so i just got this jeep a couple weeks ago and i just got a chance to take it wheelin. when i engage the 4hi part time and 4low, i havent checked full time yet, the front end makes a horrible like grinding noise when i start driving again. is that my axle gears or something else in the front end needing replaced. 4low starts grinding right away, and hi doesnt start until im going alil faster usually.

**jakeWI** · 03-04-2009, 10:37 PM

i would think:

front u joints, maybe even front d shaft u joints
transfer case and or fluid from
check fluid in the front diff.

88limited · 03-04-2009, 10:53 PM

ok, well ill check the fluids and stuff tomorrow. how do check if u joints are bad?

**2000XJ** · 03-04-2009, 11:33 PM

If the ujoints are really bad, then they'll look it. They will look like they're falling apart and dried out. The caps could be cracked, the rubber grommets towards the trunion may be dried out and slipping off. They will also click while you're trying to make turns.

Like Jake said, start with checking your fluids. Since you recently purchased the vehicle, change all the fluids to play on the side of caution (oil, trans, tcase, diffs, coolant, etc.).

BMW-XJ · 03-05-2009, 04:16 PM

Does it feel like its switching out of 4x4 right away?

88limited · 03-05-2009, 05:09 PM

ok just found the the problem. my passenger side u joint is bad. i was spinning the driveline back and fourth while my friend was looking at the u joints and sure enough. it needs to be replaced. how hard is it to replace those?

DC4W-93XJ · 03-05-2009, 05:18 PM

do you have a vacuum disconnect D30??

DC4W-93XJ · 03-05-2009, 05:23 PM

oh lol oops.. you found the problem..
well heres how..
pull your wheel off
then your brake caliper **dont take the brake line loose.. just unbolt it from the knuckle and set it aside on the lower controll arm
then the 3 bolts inside the knuckle forming a triangle.... take those out.. then it'll probably be rusted in there so you'll have to use a cold chisel and a hammer to separate the hub from the knuckle..
then it'll slide right out..

then once you have it out you can use a vice or a press yo get the wheel joint out of the axles.. DO NOT USE A HAMMER.. dumb red necks and hammers.. do it right or dont touch it lol.. then do everything i just said in reverse.. then wheel the **** out of it some more

DC4W-93XJ · 03-05-2009, 05:25 PM

im pretty sure those hub bolts take a 15mm, 12 point wrench.. they're going to be tighter than fawk... so you might need to hook two wrenches together for leverage..

try not to destroy the brake dust plate with the chisel..

88limited · 03-05-2009, 06:04 PM

lol cool thanks alot =]

DC4W-93XJ · 03-05-2009, 06:09 PM

you bet.. lemme know if you have any questions when you get down to doin it

**2000XJ** · 03-05-2009, 08:12 PM

U-joints are pretty easy to do. If you have ABS, make sure you don't damage the toner ring or else your ABS will mal-function and it could become dangerous. If you do have ABS and damage the Toner ring, your best solution until you get a replace outer with toner ring will be to pull the fuse for the ABS.

There is a good write up on u-joint swaps in the Cherokee Technical Articles section of the forum.

**ZackXJ** · 03-05-2009, 08:16 PM

I recently helped my dad fix a almost identlical problem in an old ford

BowtieGuy3 · 03-06-2009, 07:42 AM

Since you got one side up and apart.... Might as well do the other side too...

88limited · 03-31-2009, 03:28 AM

so my u joint is not the problem to my grinding. i have a feeling its the gears in the diff. its definitely coming from the front end. so its not my transfer case. i havent pulled the diff cover off yet. but how hard is it to replace the gears in a dana 30?