Front axle noise?

[ushuaia]

I have a bj75.

When I have the 4wd engaged and let off the gas it's making a vibrating noise from the front right end. In 2wd it's just fine.
The higher speed the louder it is.

suggestions?

Thanks

Björnz

 

[roscoFJ73]

My 73 series does something like that over 20 klms with the hubs locked ,in 4wd or 2wd. Unlock the hubs and all is quiet.
I think its the diff bearings

Do your hubs lock and unlock smoothly.Is it the same in all gears,sometimes they need a load on the transmission to take up the slack

You are not driving on the road in 4wd are you?

 

[lynchmob]

my 75 does this too on the passenger side. Unfortunately I think it is becuase my front axle housing is bent. This is creating some vibration where the inner axle shaft passes though the spindle bushing.

 

[roscoFJ73]

I've noticed a front axle 'growling' noise with one BJ-74 except only on deceleration in 4WD with hubs locked in. No noise in 2WD with the hubs locked in. No mechanic or "internet Landcruiser guru", has been able to figure out the cause.

Backlash or preload problem?

 

[Ron R]

Or is there wear in this bushing?
It guides the outer part of the drive shaft. If worn the drive shaft is not centered anymore thus can cause vibration depending on circmstances.

 

[UpsideDown]

check your front u-joints (they may "appear" to not be worn). If there is any decent amount of mileage on your truck, just replace them with quality parts.

Also, check your slip joint on the driveshaft. The output bearing on the t'case, and the pinion bearings at the diff. Often you can figure out if the noise is diff or transfer case. The split case can amplify noises in other parts of the drivetrain, making a pin point diagnosis more difficult. Also, there may be more than one issue that is combining to cause the noise.

 

[WojtekSz]

i also have some strange noises in front axle: it is LJ70 at 190kkm: when driving there are itermittent scrubbing type noises, seem to be at the wheel rotation frequency. The noise is different after i take a turn so it may be connected to diff gearing? Sometimes is quite easily heard sometimes it is hardly heard at all. I was driving today over 120km/h and there were no problems.
What is making these noises?
Prevoius owner used a very very thick diff oil, I have switched it into the specified type.

 

[ushuaia]

Hmmmm. I guess it's just time to take everything apart...

still think it's strange that it's only when i'm letting of the gas

Otherwise it seems to be fine.

Well back in the garage

BjörnZ

 

[Eric Winkworth]

mine does the same, I don't think it did before my 2.5 inch OME lift though...

I contributed it to the driveline angle coming out of the T case, I was thinking maybe I should try dropping it an inch...

 

[prado t]

on my BJ 74 I have a 3-4 inch lift 33" yoko m/ts going down the highway with hubs locked in 2wd there is no vibration even at 100km/h. in 4lo hubs not engaged at 20km/h there is lots of vibration. It doesnt make sense u joints are new slip yoke good front output tight.

 

[Freewheel]

Hmmm, my 60 has the same noise, and I lifted it a few months ago...It didn't do it before the lift. I wonder if the joints wear in a certain pattern when the trucks are sagging and then get noisy when you lift them...
Has anyone had this problem and changed out the slip or universal joints?

 

[Gold Boy]

i have a 2.5" lift and no problems with my 74 fr diff at any speed when hubs are locked.

how often do you guys grease your u-joints and drive shaft?

 

[prado t]

every week it gets greased

 

[WojtekSz]

maybe this will help to sort out when and what you hear (from Randy's Ring and Pinion FAQ):

• Whirring noise only while decelerating at any or all speeds is most likely caused by bad pinion bearings or loose pinion bearing preload, and almost never by bad ring and pinion gears.
• A howl or whine during acceleration over a small or large speed range is usually caused by worn ring and pinion gears or improper gear set up.
• Rumbling or whirring at speeds over about 20 mph can be caused by worn carrier bearings. The noise may change while turning.
• Regular clunking every few feet may indicate broken ring or pinion gears.
• Banging or clunking only on corners can be caused by broken spider gears, lack of sufficient positraction lubrication, or worn positraction clutches.
• Rumble while turning may indicate bad wheel bearings.
• A steady vibration that increases with the vehicle’s speed can be caused by worn u-joints or an out of balance driveshaft.
• Clunking only when starting to move or getting on and off the gas might be loose yokes, bad u-joints or worn transfer case or transmission parts.

The more I read about the others and the more listen to my front diff the more sure I am about broken ring or pinion gears - unfortunately

 

[prado t]

no noise or vibration in 4wd at any speed high or low range ie on snowy roads , it is just when I put transfer case into low without hubs locked, there is a lot of vibration, to clarify things up to top speed ie 30 km/h it is really bad, it feels like the front driveshaft wants to break off, nothing loose everything checks out.

 

[ushuaia]

Thanks for all the answers, seems like a lot of trucks has the same growling...

I have a 2" lift but the growling is only on one side.

I really don't have time to take it apart now... I wonder if I can take a chance and drive it for a while???

// BjörnZ