Help with axle / driveshaft squeak, pop, scraping, binding sounds

J

JohnOfTheJungle

Member
Hey guys - need some help. A month ago I noticed a squeaking at low speed that coincided with speed and stopped at about 15 mph.

Fast forward to a few days ago and I noticed a new sound - a gnarly scraping/popping/binding sound at low speeds while coasting.

I did some testing tonight and it seems like the scraping/popping is set off by bumps and it stops when I come to a stop. When I start going again it does not continue and only comes back occasionally.

So I did some research, most common first step is to grease u joints. New to me, but I got under there and was able to grease 3 of the 5 zerks on the rear driveshaft. I couldn't get the rear inner (spider?) zerks to accept grease.

That didn't help at all with the squeaking, might have helped with the scraping/popping.

So I put the rear axle on jack stands and rotated the driveshaft, which revealed that the squeak is coming from where the driveshaft meets the rear differential. I tried to upload a video but it's failing, here's a pic, it's the rustiest part on the left.

e158c955f51307a7985fc6187b1633ae.jpg


It doesn't seem like this is a greasable part, but I jammed my grease syringe as close as I could and got some grease in there. This eliminated the squeak.

What part is this and is it serviceable?

For the scraping/popping, it also does sound kind of like a brake dust shield, but it sounds like it's coming from the back. I can't easily reproduce it unless I'm driving, so it's hard to diagnose.

Part of me thinks it might be some part of the driveshaft binding when going over bumps. It's possible that one of those 2 zerks I missed could help it, I dunno.

There is also some play in the driveshaft when I rotate it.

Sorry this is so long, let me know if you need me to condense it.


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This is a video that I attempted to make to capture the ongoing scraping/popping/binding sound

I was holding my iPhone out of my window while driving so it's a pretty crappy video. You'll have to decipher it over the wind sound, but it's that other racket that you hear, sounds like a loose cage rattling around or something, but seems to coincide with the rotation of the wheels.


https://youtu.be/-QZkA6STRss

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After reviewing the schematics more it looks like the drive pinion is behind the part that was giving me the squeak.

I'm going to drain and fill the rear diff fluid, look for metal shavings. I kind of hope that doesn't fix the scraping/popping sound because it looks like best case scenario with diff work is $800+


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The rustiest part there looks like it is part of the differential... so, maybe you have a bad pinion bearing or something?

Give all those parts a good shake and see if anything has play.

-Charlie
 
Did you lift the vehicle recently? Sometimes lifting a vehicle or changing the suspension geometry will introduce squeaks and problems in the rear driveshaft. When you said the rear driveshaft has play, where does it have play? In the driveshaft itself or in the tranny and/or rear diff. And what type of play... rotational or you can physically move the driveshaft if you push/pull on it...
 
Yea I did lift it about a month ago, from stock/sagging to OME 906 in rear, 99 talls in front. The squeak was there before the lift. The scrape/clank is new.

The lift crossed my mind as well because I did get a leaky CV boot which I promptly fixed with a marine grade hose clamp. The consensus seems like it's such a mild lift it shouldn't affect much.

There is some rotational play. I didn't pick up on much up and down or back and forth play, but I was more concerned with trying to grease everything. I should really get in and go hard on it.






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If it were me, I'd unbolt the driveshaft from the pinion flange, inspect u-joint for play. Also check pinion flange for play, you should be able to feel it grinding spinning the flange in your hand if it's that toast, combined with wobble.

This is free and only takes a few minutes. You should be able to grease all fittings with a standard grease gun. I have a flex extension on mine and can access each zerk on the u-joints no problem. Lot's of squeaks and odd noises come from those u-joints. Don't forget to grease the double cardan (front) efficiently too, those are $$ to replace. You said you have play in the driveshaft, but you have some natural slop in the drive line. By unbolting the driveshaft, you can put hands on strictly the u-joint to feel for rotational play. Replace as necessary, get QUALITY u-joints not the cheapest shit they sell at the parts store.

Good luck
 
That rusty part you're talking about is a little shield that's part of the pinion seal and spins along with the pinion flange. It may be contacting the diff housing while spinning, thus causing the scraping. If it's not bent from something hitting it and is only scraping the 3rd member housing intermittently, that might mean that your pinion bearing is on its way out and is letting the pinion move.

I would suggest unbolting the driveshaft from the diff, jacking the back end up and putting the axle on jack stands. Grab the pinion flange and try to move it around. If there is movement, you have a pinion bearing issue. If you infected grease behind that pinion shield it might be lubricating the shield when it contacts the 3rd member housing and just masking your problem.
 
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JohnOfTheJungle said:
Yea I did lift it about a month ago, from stock/sagging to OME 906 in rear, 99 talks in front. The squeak was there before the lift. The scrape/clank is new.

The lift crossed my mind as well because I did get a leaky CV boot which I promptly fixed with a marine grade hose clamp. The consensus seems like it's such a mild lift it shouldn't affect much.

There is some rotational play. I didn't pick up on much up and down or back and forth play, but I was more concerned with trying to grease everything. I should really get in and go hard on it.

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Click to expand...

I think it would be a good idea to remove the rear driveshaft, put it in 4wd and drive it around a bit. Likely the double cardan joint in the rear driveshaft is making the scraping/clunking noise. Basically, these parts wear-in over time, and when suspension height is changed, this wear-in then becomes looseness in the driveshaft centering ball/joint of the double cardan. This is VERY common after lifting vehicles, especially when they were driven for over 100k-miles in stock (or slowly sagging) form.

Pull the rear driveshaft and see if your noises go away...
 
Just a quick update that I drove around for about 30 minutes a few times earlier this week and the noise seems to have gone away.

I'm unsure if it was helped by greasing the pinion bearing from outside that cover, or from greasing the ujoints or slip yoke. I haven't gotten around to pulling the driveshaft and checking pinion bearing for play. For the time being I'm just going to be vigilant and keep listening and maybe periodically shoot some more grease into the pinion bearing dust shield area.

Also I tried to change the differential oil but the drain bolt is rounded off. Got the fill bolt off though and was able to put probably 4 oz in it until it overflowed, so I don't think it was too low.

Definitely ordering new fill & drain plugs so I can properly change it as the oil I saw was very dark.

Will keep this thread updated as a resource for others


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Have the same exact problem. Seemed mine happened when I took it to the car wash and sprayed a lot of water under neath. Wanted to see what was goin on since I haven’t been under it in a while. Next day started that same squeak. My thought is pinion bearing. Seems only spot there to make the noise. Not the clunky sound, that idk. But the squeak I assume would be your pinion bearing starting to fail. To me it sounds like roller bearings, long metal tubes not round balls, rubbing with lack of lubrication. I’ve put maybe 2 miles on it since squeak. I too will try changing diff fluid, hoping it just got a little water past the seal. But from the looks of it I’ll probably have to rebuild. Which gives me time to do some diff work. However I hate working on diffs. I would rather take an engine apart then open a diff, but broke dude syndrome makes it hard to drop off to a shop ;(
 
k2damfc said:
Have the same exact problem. Seemed mine happened when I took it to the car wash and sprayed a lot of water under neath. Wanted to see what was goin on since I haven’t been under it in a while. Next day started that same squeak. My thought is pinion bearing. Seems only spot there to make the noise. Not the clunky sound, that idk. But the squeak I assume would be your pinion bearing starting to fail. To me it sounds like roller bearings, long metal tubes not round balls, rubbing with lack of lubrication. I’ve put maybe 2 miles on it since squeak. I too will try changing diff fluid, hoping it just got a little water past the seal. But from the looks of it I’ll probably have to rebuild. Which gives me time to do some diff work. However I hate working on diffs. I would rather take an engine apart then open a diff, but broke dude syndrome makes it hard to drop off to a shop ;(
Click to expand...

I ended up using a syringe attachment on a grease gun to shoot some heavy duty grease into the part where the drive shaft attaches to the 3rd member and where I think the pinion bearing would be.

That immediately fixed a very easily identifiable squeaking sound I was getting and it seemed to help with the scraping sound I was getting as well.

I've been driving it for the past year, and I don't notice the sound anymore, so it seems fine. I do re-grease it every few months when it sounds like the squeak might start again.

I also replaced my diff fluid sometime around last August which I'm sure didn't hurt.
 
JohnOfTheJungle said:
I ended up using a syringe attachment on a grease gun to shoot some heavy duty grease into the part where the drive shaft attaches to the 3rd member and where I think the pinion bearing would be.

That immediately fixed a very easily identifiable squeaking sound I was getting and it seemed to help with the scraping sound I was getting as well.

I've been driving it for the past year, and I don't notice the sound anymore, so it seems fine. I do re-grease it every few months when it sounds like the squeak might start again.

I also replaced my diff fluid sometime around last August which I'm sure didn't hurt.
Click to expand...
So my squeak got band aided with such resolts. But when I watched a chrisFIX video he had the same exact sound. Low and behold I replaced my rear ujoint and boom no more sounds. Wasn’t bad to fix and I think $30 for it (can’t remember actual price but it was cheap) go replace that and you’ll be good with no squeaks or problems.
:gun6::rockon:
 
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