Need ideas on strange noise...

[shum8]

Ok - I have developed a strange noise that seems to combine a heavy squeak and an apparent “thumping”. In my mind it sounds as though I have a chunk of rubber door mat attached to my driveshaft and it’s whacking the skid plate. Now, that’s kinda sorta what it sounds like - as for frequency - it only does it in a hard left hand turn, as in 1st and 2nd speed hard left. May do it at higher speeds, but I don’t wanna till it - that’ll just cause more noises.

I have checked, in no particular order, steering box, steering shaft, tie rods, shocks and shock mounts, leaf springs and related hardware, skid plate, tranny mount, rear bumper hardware, tire carrier, body mounts, roll bar hardware, hard top, hood hinges, exhaust, radiator bolts, axle u bolts, lug nuts, rear axle retaking bolts, and seat risers. All are tight.

At first I discounted drivetrain due to it only appearing in a hard left turn. Straight travel forward and backward in 2 and 4 wheel drive never does it. Hard acceleration won’t do it. However, coasting thru the hard left rarely does which points to driveline. If a ring and pinion we’re going out I would think that would raise holy hell all the time, and ya can’t “ feel” it in either shifter....... and I would think s loose flywheel or pressure plate would cause a host of other issues.

To further add confusion, I do have a new squeak I think is related, and it is fairly constant. That one sounds like a rubber spring bushing - but they’re well greased.

Some as I have dry weather after work, I wanna drop one driveshaft at a time and see if it changes.

Any ideas??


Sent via my universal translator

 

[Belizean]

If it was a front wheel drive car I would say maybe CV joint in front axle from what you are describing. The thumping part.

 

[shum8]

Hmmmmm - wouldn’t be a bad spot to investigate tho


Sent via my universal translator

 

[Project86]

maybe engine mount?

 

[Ultrunner]

May seem obvious, but could it be a belt that is loose?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[shum8]

I’m still hung up on it only occurring during a hard left turn...... I’m still checking stuff - engine mounts are next..


Sent via my universal translator

 

[hole]

If you mentioned it, I missed it, but front axle U-joint and ball joint should be considered

 

[hole]

Is it possible the front hub is locked? Parked in a parking lot someone locked the left front hub on my Bronco last year and it caused a weird vibration at highway speeds that had me chasing my tail for a couple hours before I noticed it.

 

[shum8]

If you mentioned it, I missed it, but front axle U-joint and ball joint should be considered

Have not checked those yet...... sound appears to be to the rear, but these things have a fantastic ability to translate sounds....

Is it possible the front hub is locked? Parked in a parking lot someone locked the left front hub on my Bronco last year and it caused a weird vibration at highway speeds that had me chasing my tail for a couple hours before I noticed it.

Never thought of that - check that out on my way out....



Sent via my universal translator

 

[cglax6]

If it was a front wheel drive car I would say maybe CV joint in front axle from what you are describing. The thumping part.

That may be your culprit.

Did you check and make sure your tire isn't rubbing anything during that hard left turn? Maybe your brake hose got all wonky or something...probably unlikely, but definitely something to check.

Also might be good to get someone to turn the wheel back and forth to make sure your axle isn't moving around. Check the torque on the spring retainer plates.

I had the rubber in my motor mount fail a little more than a year ago and it caused a lot of weird noises in different situations, so it's also something easy to check.

 

[shum8]

That may be your culprit.

Did you check and make sure your tire isn't rubbing anything during that hard left turn? Maybe your brake hose got all wonky or something...probably unlikely, but definitely something to check.

Yep - Did that yesterday - nothing making contact

Also might be good to get someone to turn the wheel back and forth to make sure your axle isn't moving around. Check the torque on the spring retainer plates.

I had the front end off the ground yesterday checking to make sure the tires weren't grabbing anything and I didn't notice the axle shafts moving around - but wasn't watching then specifically either.... will check that again.

I had the rubber in my motor mount fail a little more than a year ago and it caused a lot of weird noises in different situations, so it's also something easy to check.

They're on my list to check, but I would think they would cause a ruckus whether turning or not...

 

[TnCJ]

Sounds like a U joint to me. They are prone to make more noise on a hard turn when they are going bad.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

CK ALL U-joints and the DS slip splines.
CK your tranny and engine mounts closely.
Then jack up both front wheels and check for wheel bearing slop.
Then ck the rear wheels for oil leakage from the axle bearings since you run a '20' rear.
LG

 

[cglax6]

To further add confusion, I do have a new squeak I think is related, and it is fairly constant. That one sounds like a rubber spring bushing - but they’re well greased.

The constant squeak could be a hood hold down latch...I chased a squeak for over a year before I figured it out. A buddy of mine rested his elbow on the side of the hood and I heard the squeak. I was so mad at it that I just packed it with bearing grease and called it a day. The first few rains afterward turned the top of my fenders into a greasy mess, but I didn't care...that squeak was gone!

I'm sure I would have done just as well with some WD-40 every now and again.

 

[shum8]

I think I’ve narrowed them down. In checking for loose hardware, everything I had checked was good. But - even though the bolts attaching the Transmission mount to the skid plate were tight, the bolts attaching the mount to the Transmission were loose. Tightening this removed a good portion of the below noise, and now I think I just have the torque mount bumping. That tells me I have a loose or broken engine mount. Since they are old, I’m thinking I should just replace all three mounts.

As for the rear squeak - I believe that to the fuel tank. I only had one hold down strap, but at the moment the tank will shift and it squeaks. Need to scrounge up two straps and snug her down good. Gettin closer.


Sent via my universal translator

 

[YJeXtreme]

I’m local & willing to meet up to help diagnose. Easier to pin point issues in person & second set of ears helps. Msg me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[shum8]

Ok - had to meet my wife at an auction after work, and just got home a bit ago. Wanted to check a couple more things before calling in some help.

Front axle u-joints - Good to go
Rear axle u-joints - check
Removed front driveshaft - found LOTS of slop in the slip joint....... AH HA! Nope, wasn’t it.
Removed Transmission cover so I could hear better - as bad as I hate to admit it, Gert warned me of this weeks ago. Clearance hole was fine until I added a hose clamp to secure the shifter retaining pins, and the clamp was whacking the edge of the hole. Once the cover was gone, all quiet........ Amazing how sounds will translate all over a steel body. I would have bet a lot of money that clunking was behind me. Fuel tank still needs to be strapped down, but the mystery noise is gone [emoji106]. I love a happy (cheap) solution!!

Had to swap solution in for ending........ LOL


Sent via my universal translator

 

[Belizean]

Buying some more jeep projects at the auction ? You just about have yours fixed and wrapped up

 

[shum8]

Buying some more jeep projects at the auction ? You just about have yours fixed and wrapped up

Nooooooooo........ My wife found stuff she wanted but wanted me to actually do the bidding...... she’s a chicken.


Sent via my universal translator

 

[Belizean]

Nooooooooo........ My wife found stuff she wanted but wanted me to actually do the bidding...... she’s a chicken.


Sent via my universal translator

Hey someone has to control the money, you have more stuff to buy for the jeep !