bad sound coming from front end, what is it?

[kovacs32]

So i just overhauled my 98 explorer in preparation for my trip to the U.P. next week. All new brakes, new radiator, hoses, pump etc. Well now i have been getting this intermittent clunk/scrape/un raveling type sound that is very hard to describe and it it only does it some times. It almost sounds as though as a big wire coat hanger is coming un raveled under the front end of the truck, and the sound is always presistant with the speed of the vehicle. I want to think it's something simple, but im betting its going to be something like the front differential is taking a crap, or a cv/half shaft is going bad.

Does anyone have some insight for me? 98 explorer 5.0 AWD with 202k

 

[kovacs32]

after doing alot of readin on here, it seems like i may be experiencing a front driveshaft cv joint failure....what do you guys think??

 

[kovacs32]

So I went and drove it a couple more miles and cannot get it to duplicate the problem, so i parked it and climbed under neith and grabbed the front drive shaft. I cant wiggle it or anything but i can give it a little rotation and back and fourth, how much play is acceptable for this? When i hold the brake of the truck and shift from drive, to reverse and back I get a pretty good CLUNK from under my feet (T case or drive shaft) but again, i dont know whats normal and whats not.

Like i said, i leave in less than a week for a 2,000 mile round trip to the U.P. of Michigan, and i need to get this problem solved ASAP, is there anyway to determine its the front driveshaft/CV for sure?

THANKS!
Ryan

 

[nssj2]

drop the front dshaft, and take it for a spin. but caution, your parking break will not work like this. If you park on a hill with no front dshaft, the truck will creep. If that doesn't make the noise go away, look at the dust shields for any damage or contact with the rotor. are the brakes ok? cv boots ripped?

 

[kovacs32]

drop the front dshaft, and take it for a spin. but caution, your parking break will not work like this. If you park on a hill with no front dshaft, the truck will creep. If that doesn't make the noise go away, look at the dust shields for any damage or contact with the rotor. are the brakes ok? cv boots ripped?

i will pull the shaft tomorrow if i get time. The dust shields are fine, and the brakes are ok as well. al the cv boots are in great shape. This popping/binding sound is pretty harsh at times, and doesnt appear to be a minor issue. but like i said, it comes and goes as it pleases. It is not always there and i can not get to to produce the symptoms when i want to, it does it as it pleases. I really hope its somthing simple because i need this truck to be reliable next week when i leave...

 

[kovacs32]

when i pull the shaft, should it be obvious to me if the cv joint on the shaft is toast?

 

[kovacs32]

can anyone please give me a little more insight here??

 

[Fabbed4d88]

Does this sound only happen when you turn or also in a straight line? any vibration at speed? Have you checked your sway bar end links? When you checked your drive shaft was it on level ground with no tension on it?

Also, how are the bushings on your shocks?

 

[kovacs32]

Okay so i took it over to a buddies who knows his ****, he crawled under neath and i shifted from reverse to drive a couple times to show him the play and clank from the front end, then i took him for a ride and although i could not produce to harsh binding clunking noise, he immediately noticed some serious bearing sound/feeling, which i guess i just grew acustomed to as it worsened.

anyway, we got back and pretty much figured the front differential was toast inside. So him being as cool as he is told me "leave the truck and keys with me, and get over here after work and help me" Well not even 7 hours later i get over there and he has everything except for the actual front diff. assembly out of my truck. We determined that the front driver side wheel bearing was terribly worn to hell, actually surprised it has locked up or separated yet. Also, the inner CV on the driver side front, one of the 3 knuckles was stuck, but i was able to break free with some force. So between those two problems i think i have found my intermittent "clunking binding" noises.

anyways, so we break the diff. cover off and ****** it out real good and determine that everything inside is perfectly fine. The backlash is very very minimal and everything is very tight and works the way it should.

So heres where I am at now. New CV half shafts, and wheel bearings for both sides. And putting new axle seals on the diff. and sealing it back up and putting it all back together and crossing my fingers that all this cures my problems so i can take this truck up north on Thursday..... Wish me luck!

 

[specialized7]

so did that fix the problem?

 

[kovacs32]

so did that fix the problem?

Yes, although i still have a bad "clank" when shifting back and forth from forward to reveres, but i think that is due to a stretched out T-case chain. But the bearing and CV's was deifnatly culprit of my issues.