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front driveshaft noises


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This is getting frustrating. I've been trying to get rid of the clicking noises associated with my front driveshaft. I have been hearing a clicking noise at low speeds <15MPH. I just replaced/lubed all of the u joints on the shaft and expected the noises to go away. They didn't. The only thing I noticed after I drove it around today is that the driveshaft is getting rather hot after about 30 miles of driving, not sure if this is normal or not? The noises go away with the driveshaft out. Any ideas?

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CAD engaged or disengaged?

 

With the shaft out, I'd crawl under and turn the front yoke on the T-case and see if the noise is coming from there. If your CAD is engaged(i.e. shimmed), the D.S. will be turning that shaft inside the T-case... with no DS that shaft probably won't move at all.

 

All I can think of if there's no play in the DS :dunno:

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CAD engaged or disengaged?

 

With the shaft out, I'd crawl under and turn the front yoke on the T-case and see if the noise is coming from there. If your CAD is engaged(i.e. shimmed), the D.S. will be turning that shaft inside the T-case... with no DS that shaft probably won't move at all.

 

All I can think of if there's no play in the DS :dunno:

I have a non disco HP 30 swapped in. When the shaft was out I put it in 4wd and drove it that way just to see if the sound came back when the output was spinning, and it made no sound. there is a little bit of play in the splines that slip in the shaft, is that a problem?

 

 

 

EDIT: Just went down and checked on both of the 97 XJ's front shafts and they have no play in the shaft splines. That might be the problem? Is there any way to repair the shaft to eliminate that problem? I'm a bit reluctant to get a new shaft to put in there after spending $50 on new U-joints in my shaft.

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I'm assuming you mean twisting play in the splines... yeah that would definitly cause a clicking.

 

I believe you're going to need a new shaft. Not entirely sure, but there may be a rubber isolator in there.

Yep, twisting play in the splines. Anyone know if this is fixable. Is it something I need to fix right away?

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It will definitly get worse if you keep driving around with it like it is. Unless it's a possibility you're going to need to click it into 4wd while you're driving, leave it out until you can get it fixed. I would still carry it, the bolts/straps, and an 8mm wrench in the truck though. :wrench:

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Determined that it is not the driveshaft slip making the noise. I pulled the driveshaft again today. I noticed that as I turn the front tcase output I can hear the same clunk every few turns. What do you guy's think would be causing this?

 

EDIT: This also seems notable. The clicking goes away past 15mph or so, but once I get up to highway speed a loud noise sets in that is loud enough to overpower the engine. But goes away once I slow down under a certain speed. I don't have this noise with the DS out.

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Would a bad chain make the noise with the DS out as well. Thats the part that is throwing me off is that the noise goes away when the DS is out even if I put it in 4wd so that the output is spinning with the DS out.

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how are the front axle shaft joints?

They are new. Everything in the front and rear axles has been replaced with the axle swap I did last weekend. The problem existed before the swap, and continues after the swap, making me think that this has to be in either the front driveshaft or the tcase. Not sure why the sound would not be present with the driveshaft out if it is in the tcase though, unless the sound is resonating down the shaft. :dunno:

 

Really appreciate all the responses guys! Keep them coming. :cheers:

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