I have a rattle in my front end that haven't been able to isolate, but today I noticed that my front drive shaft has a lot of play. It was rebuilt recently...any suggestions why it has so much play?
Front end rattle- Drive Shaft play? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter AutaviaFJ40
- Start date
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the video is brief ,
but long enough to see that it appears the Excessive Free Play is coming from the front end that is attached to the
companion flange of the front axle housing / 3rd member
Is this the case ?
if so : The particular knocking noise and amount of excessive free play & the fact u recently had the drive shaft rebuilt lead to the
conclusion that possibly one of the U-Joint C clips has either fallen out or was left out during re-assembly , the knocking noise sounds
like one of the bearing caps of a u joint is loose maybe ?
also , its possible the wrong size hardware was used to re-install the drive shaft and the two companion flanges are loose and or
not mated together properly ?
maybe loose or missing drive shaft hardware
Also , maybe check your pinion flange nut for being Loose
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I can't see it in the vid but from the sound I'll guess worn splines in the shaft. My worn splines sound just like that. But just guessing.
Get both hands on there all over the parts and work it. You should be able find exactly where that movement is happening.
But just guessing.Get both hands on there all over the parts and work it. You should be able find exactly where that movement is happening.
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- Thread starter
- #5
I can't see it in the vid but from the sound I'll guess worn splines in the shaft. My worn splines sound just like that.
Get both hands on there all over the parts and work it. You should be able find exactly where that movement is happening.
Thanks for the suggestions. Here is a better video of the play:
So ......
Im still a bit unsure if the Excessive Free-play is coming from the front half side ( front axle 1/2 side ) of the drive shaft or the
Rear 1/2 section ( attached to the transfer case ) ?
can u clarify that key facts point
from the 2nd video it appears u are able to lift the front 1/2 up and down ? But its still very hard to tell
it might help alot if u mount your Video Camera back a little , so the entire drive shaft can be seen on the screen all at the same time
i use blocks of wood like 2x4's and 4x4's to make like a little step tripod for my camera phone some times and it works well
or have another person shoot the video for u , to gain a " Whole " Perspective front companion flange to rear companion flange
this new wide angle view might Smoke Out then problem
- Thread starter
- #7
sorry, its the back half of the Front Drive Shaft...the part attached to transfer case not the axle
So ......
Im still a bit unsure if the Excessive Free-play is coming from the front half side ( front axle 1/2 side ) of the drive shaft or the
Rear 1/2 section ( attached to the transfer case ) ?
can u clarify that key facts point
from the 2nd video it appears u are able to lift the front 1/2 up and down ? But its still very hard to tell
it might help alot if u mount your Video Camera back a little , so the entire drive shaft can be seen on the screen all at the same time
i use blocks of wood like 2x4's and 4x4's to make like a little step tripod for my camera phone some times and it works well
or have another person shoot the video for u , to gain a " Whole " Perspective front companion flange to rear companion flange
this new wide angle view might Smoke Out then problem
maybe shoot the new wide angle video from this perspective :
- Thread starter
- #9
here are two more:
I see that Ragingmatt's slip yoke is at the diff and yours is at the T-case. Not that it maters for diagnosing. I have mine mounted like yours.
When I grab the yoke and shake it like in the pic I can feel some play right where the arrow is. Maybe try that?
When I grab the yoke and shake it like in the pic I can feel some play right where the arrow is. Maybe try that?
I don't know which way is right. I meant to look that up once but forgot.
- Thread starter
- #13
I have zero play at the arrow...its all in the end.
Im not sure which orientation is correct, this is how the previous drive shaft was mounted. I removed it and replaced it with the rebuilt one you see in my videos.
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- Thread starter
- #14
and it looks like the Drive Shaft is oriented correctly.
Driveshaft Orientation
Driveshaft Orientation
I dunno. Looking at your last video I'd still put my money on the splines.
You may have to drop it to locate it but first I'd grab and shake at different places.
Try grabbing and shaking (in all directions) the t-case output flange only.
Try grabbing each half of the u-joint one at a time only and shake.
Just get both hands in there grabbing at various positions and shake.
You really should be able to pinpoint it.
You may have to drop it to locate it but first I'd grab and shake at different places.
Try grabbing and shaking (in all directions) the t-case output flange only.
Try grabbing each half of the u-joint one at a time only and shake.
Just get both hands in there grabbing at various positions and shake.
You really should be able to pinpoint it.
- Thread starter
- #16
Here are a few new views of the drive shaft...I'll shoot a better close up view tomorrow.
Wide shot (2WD):
Close up of the diff end (2WD):
Wide shot (2WD):
Close up of the diff end (2WD):
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- Thread starter
- #17
and in 4WD:
- Thread starter
- #18
The Drive Shaft doesn't appear to be the source of the rattling sound...I was finally able to position the camera to get a good view...and I dont see excessive play here.
Im hearing a pretty serious rattling sound as if something in the front end is loose, especially at low speed on gravel or a road with bumps. I also have a hard thud sound occasionally (metal to metal). They both seem to be under the front drivers footwell or near the transmission.
Im hearing a pretty serious rattling sound as if something in the front end is loose, especially at low speed on gravel or a road with bumps. I also have a hard thud sound occasionally (metal to metal). They both seem to be under the front drivers footwell or near the transmission.
