Dana 30 making noise when turning

[Air Force]

My 78 CJ7 with the Dana 30 front end is making a very bad noise when you turn the wheel all the way in either direction. I first assumed it was the u-joints at the wheel hubs and replaced them. That was always the problem whenever I have heard this issue over the years. I bought the parts and torn into it only to realise they were OK. I went ahead and replcaed them anyway since I had the hubs torn apart. The issue is still there and I fear it is internal to the axle. It make a bad noise and "jerks" the front end when turning. Any idea's? I have never been in the axle to service it, only ever chaged the gear oil.

 

[Old Dog]

Does it olny do it with the wheel turned all the way?
Were you on hard payment with the front end engaged when this happened ?

 

[73CJ]

Is there a locker in the axle?

Possibly take a pic with the diff cover off.

Grab the drive shaft and rotate back and forth looking for play with hubs locked in.

Can you describe the noise better?

 

[Air Force]

Sorry, I should have said it has the QuadraTrac system. It is when you are on pavement, the further you turn the wheels the worse it gets, not in low, or emergency 4WD. Just regular drive. My last CJ7 with the same system did not do it and this one did not until recently.

 

[PaRenegade]

And this is only when your moving and not stationary, right?

 

[Old Dog]

Can you describe the noise better?

 

[Air Force]

Let me answer a couple questions at once.

It is stock. no lockers attached.

Only does it when moving and the further you turn the wheel the worse it gets.

It is a clicking noise and the front of the jeep shakes. It is exactlly like when you have a bad u-joint at the hub, but like I said I replaced those and they were not bad anyway. Figured that out when I took it apart. Put the new u-joints in anyway since it was torn apart.

I opened the axle and the gears look great. Changed the oil, gasket and put the cover on. There is a little "slop" in the system. You can move the drive shaft a little before the alxes will turn. Would that cause this sort of issue? When I say a little I mean about a 1/4 inch rotation on the drive shaft input.

 

[tarry99]

Let me answer a couple questions at once.

It is stock. no lockers attached.

Only does it when moving and the further you turn the wheel the worse it gets.

It is a clicking noise and the front of the jeep shakes. It is exactlly like when you have a bad u-joint at the hub, but like I said I replaced those and they were not bad anyway. Figured that out when I took it apart. Put the new u-joints in anyway since it was torn apart.

I opened the axle and the gears look great. Changed the oil, gasket and put the cover on. There is a little "slop" in the system. You can move the drive shaft a little before the alxes will turn. Would that cause this sort of issue? When I say a little I mean about a 1/4 inch rotation on the drive shaft input.

Here are some dumb questions..........Ball Joints? Axle Bearings or loose bearings? Are the tires hitting a spring or something? Jack it up with the tires off the ground but jack stands under the axle so that the axle is not hanging and try running it with wheels turning through the cycle left and right.

 

[Kane]

Maybe the Transfer Case spider gears are not allowing slip between the front and rear axles. If this happens you will get alot of protest just like in a part time 4x4 set up. Is your switch busted that locks the Transfer Case gears?

 

[Incommando]

I have heard ball joints make a popping noise on a Dana 30 ... the more you turn the greater the stress on the joints ( especially on the outside arc side of the axle) and the louder the noise.

 

[Air Force]

Sounds like I need to check the ball joints. I like the idea of getting the front end up on jack stands and checking it out. I'll try that.

The Transfer Case is something I did not even think of. I guess I will look into that as well.

All great ideas guy's. That is why I asked. My only problem now is finding time to get to it. With the hot weather I am not really excited to get out in the garage and work on it. Not to mention I have been traveling a lot with work. It may be sitting for the time being.

 

[tarry99]

Sounds like I need to check the ball joints. I like the idea of getting the front end up on jack stands and checking it out. I'll try that.

The Transfer Case is something I did not even think of. I guess I will look into that as well.

All great ideas guy's. That is why I asked. My only problem now is finding time to get to it. With the hot weather I am not really excited to get out in the garage and work on it. Not to mention I have been traveling a lot with work. It may be sitting for the time being.

Air Force,

If you do jack it up as I mentioned you should probably have all 4 wheels off the ground........not sure if you can disengage the rear while testing the front.
Good Luck!

 

[Niedhogg]

I would say it's normal, and what you are hearing is from the q-trac. Q-tracs are basically full time 4x4.. They have a Limited slip diff, or clutch pack in them that is designed to give way while turning on hard pavement... one other thing you could do is replace the fluids in the Transfer Case with the Q-trac specific fluid, and then find a field you can do figure 8s in.. this will ensure your chain is lubed completely and sometimes helps reduce the noise..

Have you had this jeep for a while and drive it regularly? Or is it new to you??