88 Comanche Chief Bearing Noise in front transaxle or wheel?

[hillbilly51]

My 88 Comanche with the D30 Dana front transaxle w/axle disconnect...has developed what I first assumed to be a wheel bearing noise.

It's very noticeable when I turn the truck to the left and quiets down when I turn to the right.

Otherwise, I hear a sound like a failed bearing all the time.

It's not loud when I'm steering straight, but it's definitely still there.

The noise is like a tire is going flat.

 

I pulled both front hubs and checked the bearings.

Both bearings are still snug and turn smoothly, and I don't believe that's the trouble.

 

When I pulled the right front hub, the axle came out with it.

Is that normal? or am I having a problem back at the axle disconnect.

It seems like there should be something holding the axle in place...besides the wheel hub.

I notice that Jeep didn't put a outboard bearing on the right side axle and that was suprising to me.

I've had a small oil leak from behind the oil slinger where the axle shaft comes out of the axle housing.

Should gear oil be in that area, or do I have a seal leaking inside?

I thought that the axle disconnect was lubed by axle grease that's added behind the axle shift plate.

 

Could the noise be coming from the caged needle bearing that supports the axle shaft outboard the axle disconnect?

 

If I can't find the source, I'm going to start replacing wheel hubs, and work down from there.

 

Any ideas?

Thanks for any response.

steve

[Dillithium]

My 88 Comanche with the D30 Dana front transaxle w/axle disconnect...has developed what I first assumed to be a wheel bearing noise.

It's very noticeable when I turn the truck to the left and quiets down when I turn to the right.

Otherwise, I hear a sound like a failed bearing all the time.

It's not loud when I'm steering straight, but it's definitely still there.

The noise is like a tire is going flat.

 

I pulled both front hubs and checked the bearings.

Both bearings are still snug and turn smoothly, and I don't believe that's the trouble.

 

Did you check the hubs with the wheels on them? Jack up the axle and pull on the wheel at 3 and 9 o clock, then 12 and 6 o clock. Check for movement/shimmy.

 

When I pulled the right front hub, the axle came out with it.

Is that normal? or am I having a problem back at the axle disconnect.

 

That is normal, if the splines were not greased during install it can freeze to the hub. The disconnect axle is a two part axle, so it's normal.

 

It seems like there should be something holding the axle in place...besides the wheel hub.

I notice that Jeep didn't put a outboard bearing on the right side axle and that was suprising to me.

 

Only thing holding the axle shaft in is the hub, that is correct.

 

I've had a small oil leak from behind the oil slinger where the axle shaft comes out of the axle housing.

Should gear oil be in that area, or do I have a seal leaking inside?

I thought that the axle disconnect was lubed by axle grease that's added behind the axle shift plate.

 

The axle disconnect is lubed by differential oil coming from the main diff. There should be diff oil in the disconnect housing and the main differential housing, not in the axle tubes. If there is, you have a bad seal.

 

Could the noise be coming from the caged needle bearing that supports the axle shaft outboard the axle disconnect?

 

Possible, at some point they switched from a metal needle bearing to a plastic bearing. The plastic bearings break, you could check that.

 

If I can't find the source, I'm going to start replacing wheel hubs, and work down from there.

 

Any ideas?

Thanks for any response.

steve

[Incommando]

(a transaxle is the combination of a transmission and differential most commonly found on front wheel drive cars)