CV axle/diagnosing question

[afg10000]

Hey, everyone. Can a CV make a high pitched chirping noise? I've been trying to diagnose this for a few weeks. It's definitely rotational. The truck has to be on the ground and moving to make the chirp. I've never personally had a CV go bad but I remember axles on my friend's car going out. They made a clunky/grating noise, especially when turning. I have none of that noise.

 

[JayRolla]

Usually they make a clicking sound when bearings go out. Squeak can also be the driveshaft. If you put truck on jack stands it wont make the sound in gear?

 

[afg10000]

Thanks, Jay. No, if it's in the air in gear, no chirping sound (according to my guys at the shop). Wheels have to be on the ground. I greased all the zerks on the driveshaft yesterday. Did not fix problem.

 

[Andy in Pa]

This is a pretty common driveshaft CV symptom of it needing to be greased. Sounds like chirping birds when in gear moving slowly correct? If your in 2wd and still hearing it, its probably the rear driveshaft. Find the grease fitting that feeds grease into the ball/socket part of the CV, and really stuff it full of grease. It may not go away right away, but once the grease slings around in there a bit it should take care of it.

 

[JayRolla]

If you let it go too long the chirp cant be fixed on the driveshaft since the u joints bearings have failed. Im in this situation right now. I have greased and it still chirps at the front of driveshaft when I lifted it. Its kind of wierd you dont get it with tires in air. If it was at the shop what did they say it was?

 

[afg10000]

This is a pretty common driveshaft CV symptom of it needing to be greased. Sounds like chirping birds when in gear moving slowly correct? If your in 2wd and still hearing it, its probably the rear driveshaft. Find the grease fitting that feeds grease into the ball/socket part of the CV, and really stuff it full of grease. It may not go away right away, but once the grease slings around in there a bit it should take care of it.

Yes, sounds like little sparrows chirping. It's not just moving slowly, though. The rhythm of the chirps increases or decreases with speed. Yes, in 2WD. It started about a week after lift install with only a small chirp about every 8 rotations of wheels. I will note that I installed my OEM axles with the long travel boots with the lift. It's now almost constant annoyance as long as I'm moving above about 5mph. I'm pretty sure I hit all the grease zerks from the tranny to Tcase and the ones I could find behind there. Forgive my lack of understanding, but do you have a reference of where I need to grease? FSM page number or photo or napkin drawing. I gotta go on a road trip this week. I really appreciate your guys' help.

 

[Andy in Pa]

Yes, sounds like little sparrows chirping. It's not just moving slowly, though. The rhythm of the chirps increases or decreases with speed. Yes, in 2WD. It started about a week after lift install with only a small chirp about every 8 rotations of wheels. I will note that I installed my OEM axles with the long travel boots with the lift. It's now almost constant annoyance as long as I'm moving above about 5mph. I'm pretty sure I hit all the grease zerks from the tranny to Tcase and the ones I could find behind there. Forgive my lack of understanding, but do you have a reference of where I need to grease? FSM page number or photo or napkin drawing. I gotta go on a road trip this week. I really appreciate your guys' help.

Take a look at this thread. 1st post, it would be No. 6 grease fitting.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/97006-drive-prop-shaft-greasing-guide.html

Hope this helps!!
A.

 

[afg10000]

If you let it go too long the chirp cant be fixed on the driveshaft since the u joints bearings have failed. Im in this situation right now. I have greased and it still chirps at the front of driveshaft when I lifted it. Its kind of wierd you dont get it with tires in air. If it was at the shop what did they say it was?

They couldn't figure it out. They said keep driving it until it gets louder so we can diagnose it. They couldn't get it to make the noise in the air. These are my good guys, too. I've had all 3 Runners there multiple times and they always take care of me. The chirping has only been for a few weeks so hopefully I'm not screwed. Please see my response to Andy in PA's post if I missed greasing something. I've already trouble shot everything else I could think of. Def not brake or dust shield related. Found a front diff leak (failed Dorman actuator switch) replace with Toyota part. Front axle seals are good. My CV axles seem fine. The chirps definitely seem centered in the front end. So it doesn't sound like my axles are shot? I have extra OEM ones I can swap before my road trip, but if I do, I'll bet the boots fail whilst I'm out on the road. Again, thanks for the help.

 

[afg10000]

Take a look at this thread. 1st post, it would be No. 6 grease fitting.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/97006-drive-prop-shaft-greasing-guide.html

Hope this helps!!
A.

Sweet, Andy. I saw Nelson's post a few days back. I don't think I got the #6 zerk. I do recall doing the other two right there. I'll check that one ASAP. Appreciate the help, man.
Andy in Omaha

 

[TheeMikeB]

This is a pretty common driveshaft CV symptom of it needing to be greased. Sounds like chirping birds when in gear moving slowly correct? If your in 2wd and still hearing it, its probably the rear driveshaft. Find the grease fitting that feeds grease into the ball/socket part of the CV, and really stuff it full of grease. It may not go away right away, but once the grease slings around in there a bit it should take care of it.

Just to clear something up....


Driveshaft and CVs are two completely different things. CVs to not have grease zerks.

Common driveshaft problem yes... common CV problem no.

 

[afg10000]

Just to clear something up....


Driveshaft and CVs are two completely different things. CVs to not have grease zerks.

Common driveshaft problem yes... common CV problem no.

I'm with ya. I did miss #6 and the inner one on the very rear by the diff. Probably the most important ones. Drove around a bit with no noise until getting up to about 45mph. Andy, you stated it may take a bit for it to get all lubed up. I'll wait til I go driving more tomorrow. If this doesn't fix it, then I'm at a loss.

 

[Andy in Pa]

I'm with ya. I did miss #6 and the inner one on the very rear by the diff. Probably the most important ones. Drove around a bit with no noise until getting up to about 45mph. Andy, you stated it may take a bit for it to get all lubed up. I'll wait til I go driving more tomorrow. If this doesn't fix it, then I'm at a loss.

True TheeMikeB, it is actually the double cardan joint in the rear driveshaft, not the CV.

Sometimes it is just too worn out and will still squeak, even after heavy greasing. Hopefully that is not the case with yours.

 

[afg10000]

True TheeMikeB, it is actually the double cardan joint in the rear driveshaft, not the CV.

Sometimes it is just too worn out and will still squeak, even after heavy greasing. Hopefully that is not the case with yours.

Well, it honestly sounds just as bad after tooling around town today if not a little worse. Sounds like a whole gaggle of chirping birds under there. I greased the hell out of every zerk under there. Maybe it's something else? Do ya'll think it's safe to drive. I gots to leave on a 700 mile trip on Thursday. I can take my old lady's Runner if I have to. I'd rather not. I have one more day to try and figure this out. Is it at all possible it's something wheel related? I don't know what it would be. Could the spacers be ajar causing this or something weird?

 

[Andy in Pa]

Well, it honestly sounds just as bad after tooling around town today if not a little worse. Sounds like a whole gaggle of chirping birds under there. I greased the hell out of every zerk under there. Maybe it's something else? Do ya'll think it's safe to drive. I gots to leave on a 700 mile trip on Thursday. I can take my old lady's Runner if I have to. I'd rather not. I have one more day to try and figure this out. Is it at all possible it's something wheel related? I don't know what it would be. Could the spacers be ajar causing this or something weird?

I would try to put it in the air again, and put the jackstands under the rear axle so the weight is still on it (with the tires off the ground of course). Start it, put it in gear and see if you still get the noise. The shop probably picked the whole truck up, and let the axles hang from the suspension.

 

[afg10000]

I would try to put it in the air again, and put the jackstands under the rear axle so the weight is still on it (with the tires off the ground of course). Start it, put it in gear and see if you still get the noise. The shop probably picked the whole truck up, and let the axles hang from the suspension.

Well, here's where I'm at. Took it to a different shop this AM. They did as you've instructed to my knowledge. They concluded it was my rear wheel spacers rubbing on the axle hub. They refused to mess with spacers and furthermore said they tried to remove one nut and it didn't budge. I said, "it's got locktite on it". Took it to my buddy's house. Popped the spacers off with the impact without too much trouble. A couple nuts were a little under torque but not horrible. Anyway, re-installed the rear wheels sans spacers and drove around the block. Same annoying noise. Incorrect diagnosis. Sounded weird to me anyway. Gonna check the front spacers and put my poly sway bar bushings on. I was assured again today by my normal shop that they checked the u-joints and they are tight and good. This is driving me to drink.

 

[Andy in Pa]

Did you ask them what lead them to suspect it was the rear wheel spacers? That sounds completely bogus to me. Did they think one was loose? If two shops have taken a look at it, and neither have been able to diagnose it correctly, I would take it on the trip you are going on. One of two things will happen... it will get louder, which will be easier to diagnose, or it will wear in and go away. Maybe one of your front CV boots is split and its squeaking against itself as it rotates?

Also FYI... the u-joints on a double cardan (DC) joint can be perfectly good, but the chirping/squeaking sound does not come from the u-joints, it comes from the ball/socket joint in the middle of the DC. This joint has a rubber seal that becomes hard/brittle over time. Hose it with WD40 and see if that temporarily makes the squeaking go away. If it does, shove some more grease in there until you see it coming out, and take it on your trip.

 

[afg10000]

Did you ask them what lead them to suspect it was the rear wheel spacers? That sounds completely bogus to me. Did they think one was loose? If two shops have taken a look at it, and neither have been able to diagnose it correctly, I would take it on the trip you are going on. One of two things will happen... it will get louder, which will be easier to diagnose, or it will wear in and go away. Maybe one of your front CV boots is split and its squeaking against itself as it rotates?

Also FYI... the u-joints on a double cardan (DC) joint can be perfectly good, but the chirping/squeaking sound does not come from the u-joints, it comes from the ball/socket joint in the middle of the DC. This joint has a rubber seal that becomes hard/brittle over time. Hose it with WD40 and see if that temporarily makes the squeaking go away. If it does, shove some more grease in there until you see it coming out, and take it on your trip.

Thanks, Andy. I'm already on the same page and conclusion with ya. Just gonna drive it. I greased the hell out of all the zerks under there. It's not the CV boots. They're touching a little bit, but it's not that kind of sound. I'll keep posted when I get back. Thanks again.