98 5.0 e/b front drive shaft

[rlp71068]

I tried searching and couldnt find diffinitive info on how to remove the front driveshaft at the transfer case. Ive got a rubbing noise at about 30-45 mph. The hanyes manual doesnt go into the transfer case end, other than to say its a cv joint. Cant hear the noise above 45mph. Replaced all the ball joints and tie rod ends and aligned it. New rotors and breaks and half shaft on the passenger side. It needed all these parts except the half shaft. The noise seems to be coming from the passenger side. Replaced the differnetial fluid and the t/c case fluid. I also replaced the hub bearing assembly on that side, when i was first trying to locate this noise, with the non timkin bearing. When i had it up on jack stands today, i disconnected the front driveshaft from the differential and spun the tires tryn to locate some noise to no avail. I did find that the new hub bearing had quite a bit of play, Axle nut was torqued to spec. I reinstalled the old bearing, which im not sure is 100% ok, but it doesnt have any play like the new one. Took it for a ride and it still has the rubbing noise, in unison with about the speed of the halfshaft or driveshaft revolutions, but not as bad. The cv joint end of the front drive shaft rubber boot is intact and doesnt seem to have any excessive play in it. I was orignally thinking it might be a bearing in the end of the front differential on the passenger side, that the half shaft rides on, but i wanted to some how confirm that. Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks in advance

 

[ericautopart]

Sounds like the front pinion bearing. Now would be a good time to replace all the diff bearings.

 

[rlp71068]

any idea, what if any, special tools would be needed to install the bearings in the differential. Would this task require a manual, if so, do you have any idea where i could get one.

 

[ericautopart]

If this is your daily driver, and you don't know..I wouldn't do attempt it. Most shops won't even touch differentials. You'd be better off bringing it to a professional. I know money is tight all over but you can cause a lot of damage. Some guys will replace the entire front diff, or tell you to do so. That's nonsense (and I sell differentials).

 

[jremington59]

Just buy a new propshaft if it's bad. I believe the end attached to the TC is fastened by 6 bolts. Maybe around 3/8th? You can change the ujoint on the diff end but your not replacing the end to the TC.

 

[rlp71068]

When i get a chance im going to pull the front d/s and see if that changes anything where the noise is concerned. There is no vibration, just the noise at 25-45mph ( that i can hear) . Im not convinced either way if its the wheel bearing, since i put a new one on and it didnt really help the noise, and i didnt see anything wrong with the old one, and like i said in the earlier post, the old one is back on now with no change in the noise. Im still leaning toward that bearing in the differential on the passenger end. Going straight i have noise, swerving to the left it has increased noise, swerving right noise is about half. I thought i read a post on here somewhere that a person changed just the bearing in the end of the differntial and it fixed the problem. Is this possible with the differential in the vehicle?

 

[jremington59]

What condition are the tires in?

 

[ericautopart]

It's possible but that's why I just said change all the diff bearings. You may not know what the cause was if you do all of them but more likely than not it'll fix your issue. I've got a timken kit for $100.45.

 

[rlp71068]

Tires are in decent shape, they are not new, but they have been rotated religously. Rotating the tires does not have any effect on the noise. If the bearing in the end of the differential can be replaced, and it fixes the problem, that would be a positive thing. If the differential fails tomorrow, i would go to the junk yard and find another in short order, and hope for the best. This is the wifes work vehicle, so it is a daily driver. After i pull the driveshaft and confirm whether its the problem, i would most likely go ahead an purchase a bearing set, try to do the one i think it is, still look for another differential from the junk yard and try my hand a rebuilding it, where the bearings are concerned. Any special tools needed to get that bearing out of the end of the diffential, and of course getting it back in?

 

[ericautopart]

I just use the standard 12 ton hydraulic press from harbor freight.