Need answer to front diff question..

[sawguy]

While attempting to find the cause of my front end howling noise, I now have a question about the front differential. Knuckles and hubs removed ( I'm having new wheel bearings pressed in, and new ball joints ), when I turn the driver side axle by hand I hear a faint clicking or ratcheting noise like gears meshing. On the passenger side quiet. On another forum I posted this and one member replied that the driver side of the diff has gears associated with it, while the passenger side does not. But, my question is should it make a clicking noise? I have not checked my diff fluid, but this just started a month ago and everything underneath is bone dry ( no leaks ). Thanks for any help on this since I don't want to reassemble everything until I know if this is normal.

 

[Grenvilleter]

Clicking is not normal.
My next step would be to drain the diff oil watching for shiny flakes in the fluid. Maybe strain it through a cheesecloth or something to get a better look at the old oil.

Make sure you can get the fill plug loose before you remove the drain plug on the front diff.

Of course if you have shiny pieces in oil, you have to go deeper but if not, better refer to the experts here as to what the click could be.

 

[sawguy]

I should add it's a steady click more like a ratchet wrench. Maybe this was my howling and not the wheel bearing. C'mon experts!

 

[sawguy]

Need help please...

 

[sawguy]

OK ...who would be a guy to PM with this question?

 

[snow junky]

if its not clicking with your wheel spinning. it could be your racknpinion, not sure if im readingyour post right... try to post video

 

[Groff]

I was doing my brakes last weekend and I noticed that my 2001 has the same clicking noise. As it turns out, I also have a humming noise that I thought was a wheel bearing. I was going to replace my bearings next but would love to hear an expert opinion on this clicking.

 

[sawguy]

if its not clicking with your wheel spinning. it could be your racknpinion, not sure if im readingyour post right... try to post video

Wheels are off, I'm turning the axle shaft with my hand to hear the clicking. It does not sound like cv joint. Does anyone know if the side bearings in the front diff are prone to going out? If so, are they hard to replace?

 

[sawguy]

update

Update...drained the front diff gear oil and no metal at all...oil is clear as can be.. Now, is this gear meshing noise a concern?