I think its definitely worth the effort to have the driveshaft checked and rebalanced. I agree something caused that bearing to eat itself. Your experience is the first I've heard of - most of us replace the bearing only because we're already in there placing the seal.
Painful low frequency drone/pressure in cabin
- Thread starter LJE
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- #122
Hmmm, weird.
Pulling the rear D/S had a similar effect as before - no more drone/resonance at 50mph, but a non-trivial increase of vibrations at lower speeds (plus, that torque steer is no joke!). With the driveshaft in place, it seems like these vibrations might be present, but very muted as compared to the driveshaft removed.
As previously mentioned, the entire front end is nearly new and rebuilt per the FSM - there is one CV axle that I didn't replace, but that's the only thing I can think of. Anyone know how to check a CV axle in-situ?
Regarding the rear driveshaft itself - I take back my earlier statement - these U-joints are gross. There's no discernible play (what I was looking for previously), but there's definitely a "notch* in eaxh direction.
I think between the small dent and bum U-joints, it's probably time for a new driveshaft. Seems like I'd be in for $120 in U-joints alone, then whatever the cost is to balance it, and I've seen more then one example on 'Mud where people replaced U-joints & had the shaft rebalanced and still had vibrations until they replaced the entire shaft.
Video of the U-joints below:
Last thought for the moment - I did notice the transfer case had been apart before (based on silver sealer vs OEM red/orange). Hmmm, interesting.
Pulling the rear D/S had a similar effect as before - no more drone/resonance at 50mph, but a non-trivial increase of vibrations at lower speeds (plus, that torque steer is no joke!). With the driveshaft in place, it seems like these vibrations might be present, but very muted as compared to the driveshaft removed.
As previously mentioned, the entire front end is nearly new and rebuilt per the FSM - there is one CV axle that I didn't replace, but that's the only thing I can think of. Anyone know how to check a CV axle in-situ?
Regarding the rear driveshaft itself - I take back my earlier statement - these U-joints are gross. There's no discernible play (what I was looking for previously), but there's definitely a "notch* in eaxh direction.
I think between the small dent and bum U-joints, it's probably time for a new driveshaft. Seems like I'd be in for $120 in U-joints alone, then whatever the cost is to balance it, and I've seen more then one example on 'Mud where people replaced U-joints & had the shaft rebalanced and still had vibrations until they replaced the entire shaft.
Video of the U-joints below:
Last thought for the moment - I did notice the transfer case had been apart before (based on silver sealer vs OEM red/orange). Hmmm, interesting.
Hmm... the plot thickens.
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- #124
Right? I've got a new OEM rear propshaft on the way right now. Hope it takes care of it! That bearing definitely needed to be replaced though.
I would expect that bearing didn't kill itself, probably a bad driveshaft that caused the bearing issue.
- Thread starter
- #127
New big shaft day! It feels so nice in the hands - uh, I mean, the U-joints that is. It's amazing compared to how clunky the old joints feel! It's installed now, just have to wait for the wife to get home to watch the kiddo...
Keep the updates and innuendos coming!
throw the kid on the roof and go! both will have fun 
(just do it BEFORE your wife comes back! :-D )
(just do it BEFORE your wife comes back! :-D )
throw the kid on the roof and go! both will have fun
(just do it BEFORE your wife comes back! :-D )
I think (hope) we all have these memories, but I was fortunate to learn from my dad as a little kid, what mama don't know won't hurt her.
- Thread starter
- #131
throw the kid on the roof and go! both will have fun
(just do it BEFORE your wife comes back! :-D )
I'll let one of you two be the ones to incur the wrath of a cranky 11 month old awoken from her nap early.
Now, if I had one of those shiny Dissent roof racks...
No update. So I guess you gave it shot and your wife just pulled into the driveway?!? 
- Thread starter
- #133
No update. So I guess you gave it shot and your wife just pulled into the driveway?!?
Sigh, I wish...
I think the driveshaft has fixed the last of the original resonance issues I was having. Hooray!
However.
I now have an obnoxious 'whomp whomp whomp' noise. Seems exactly what people describe as to be tire noise typically.
What's weird is we first noticed this on the way back from a trip this weekend - drove 120 miles to my parents (with the old drive shaft - but was super quiet/smooth at 70mph or a above), welded up a slider kit, mounted it to the LX, drove back and suddenly had an obnoxious noise at 70ish and above.
Attributed it to adding mass to the frame with the driveshaft issue. Swapped driveshafts yesterday, and 'whomp whomp whomp' noise is now most annoying at 58-65ish mpg.
These Wildpeaks had 6k miles on a brand new jeep when I got them, and I've probably put 350 miles on them since - so I don't really see how tire wear would be a thing already. I also don't understand how it would pop up so suddenly either.
My front wheel bearings are brand new, and the rears still feel good, so I don't expect it to be a bearing noise either.
Bah.
I think I'm going to throw my old wheels/tires back on and see how those do.
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good to hear for the resonance! Congrats
Any idea from which direction the new sounds comes? front? rear?
Any idea from which direction the new sounds comes? front? rear?
- Thread starter
- #135
Sorta sounds like a UFO hovering above you... Hahaha. I need to have someone ride with me to help diagnose direction. It seems like it should be more directional than the driveshaft resonance was.good to hear for the resonance! Congrats
Any idea from which direction the new sounds comes? front? rear?
Swapping tires is a good idea to eliminate the possibility, but you might just get them rebalanced. You never know if a weight got knocked off along the way.
Or the tires could just be trying to knock off the Jeep stink now that they live on the right side of the tracks.
Or the tires could just be trying to knock off the Jeep stink now that they live on the right side of the tracks.
I had problems with these before. My 1st set got warrentied because they couldn’t balance. 2nd set I just dealt w/road noise, got much louder as they wore. Great performance in snow though. I really enjoyed swapping to defenders…. I don’t care about aggressive looks, went though a foot of snow, whisper quite.
- Thread starter
- #140
Yeah - I built these to have a mounting bracket that's a big "U" that wraps around the frame and is closed at the top with a 1/2" Grade 8 bolt. One troubleshooting step would be to take these back off, but ugh, they're a tight fit...
There's plenty of clearance around the mounting ears, but I'll triple check that again tonight.
