Rear Axle Noise
I am almost embarrassed to post this. I think I may have done some damage to my rear axle. Ran the 280 for about 15 miles on the road with it locked in 4WD, all the time wondering what the slight vibration was. Now I have a “new†noise from the rear end.
Not constant and could be related to turning tightly. Its an intermittent clunk / twang which you can also feel.
I am thinking the worst, diff?
What do you think, apart from me being a complete cretin :oops: :oops: ?
Learning point form this is NEVER park it and leave it in 4WD overnight.
Russ
The "twaing" sound may actually be the propshaft
Hi Russ the "windup" characteristic you get with high speed 4 wheel drive can Naff the prop shaft needle bearings which results in backlash.. ie drive takeup on the damaged needle bearings before the diff moves...sounds like hitting a hollow pipe with a spanner.... put the G in second gear with the hand brake off and push backwards and forwards.... and listen.... it can also damage the tie rod rubber bushes that hold the back axle in place if the rubber is old and hard.try rocking the G from side to side by grabbing the roof gutter and pulling.... if you get dinging sounds underneath chances are the bushes are whacked. don't think its the diff ..wrong sort of noise rgds and a Happy New Year
did the red light on the dash board not get your attention?
i would be almost certain its not a diff problem, sounds more like prop shaft or even a loose wheel?
Cheers Guys, I just love this forum!!
OK it sounds like it could be
t can also damage the tie rod rubber bushes that hold the back axle in place if the rubber is old and hard.try rocking the G from side to side by grabbing the roof gutter and pulling...
If I grab the rear wheels and tug hard as if you were testing for wheel bearing play, the rear axle appears to move laterally.
What do you mean by the needle bearings? The UJ bearings?
Jeepmadmike. I didn't have it in diff lock. It was in 4WD so no red light. Still a prat of course :x :x
Russ
Hi Russ at both ends of the drive shaft from the transfer box to the back axle you have cross bearings... these have needle bearings in each cap (4 caps per cross)..if you watch the shaft when the G is pushed backwards and forwards in second gear you will see any slop in the crosses.if they slop about the needle bearings have collapsed rgds
Russ, in any event, doesn't sount to anyone as it was a damaged diff. I am inclined to suspect the rear propshaft (UJ) as well. Good luck with it!
Well I’ve had a good poke around under it today. Still not 100% sure what it is but don’t think it’s diff or UJ’s / prop shaft.
It could well be the suspension bushes on the trailing arms / hockey sticks where they are attached to the axle. This is difficult to explain without drawings / pics but where the trailing arms attach to the axle, particularly on the drivers side, it is not mounted parallel within the axle mounts. E.G it is skewed in its mount. One bush in particular looks very tired.
Difficult to feel any play in it though. This would however seem to be symptomatic of excessive torque being applied, which would be the case in transmission wind up.
I guess I will not know until I change them though. Oddly enough went for a drive in it today and the noise has disappeared?! :?
Thanks for al the advice, I wil keep you posted.
Russ
Hi russ could be a broken rear spring.. that tends to change the geography under there.........
If they are I'll be slightly hacked off. :evil:
Seriously they are fine :D
Hi Russ just a thought....I recently changed the centre antiroll bar bush (the long rod that runs parallel behind the rear axle). it looked ok but the centre metal bush was worn away....have a new spare if you need it....
Russ, I'd lie underneath on my back while someone applies some force against the handbrake, both reverse and 1st. That way you'd be able to see what moves if anything. There is a health and safety risk here though so choose carefully where you position yourself and who you put in the driving seat... :shock:
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Thanks for the quick reply mercfan. When you say propshaft do you mean a UJ?
When it occurs it does seem to be related to to suspension travel rather than related to road speed or more or less power/torque.
I just know this is really going to bug me now, especially if its self inflicted, what a muppet :(
Russ