Popping Sound when in 4x4 hi and low?

[93Expo4x4]

Hey guys, im getting a loud clicking or popping noise coming from the front end when in 4hi or 4lo. it almost sounds as if its coming from the hubs? any help would be greatly appreciated. just replaced the radius arm bushings along with wheel bearings and the drivers side balljoints. doing the passenger side ball joints here within the next month or so. tie rod ends too

 

[RangerX]

Do you have the auto hubs? Most likely the problem. They don't last forever.

 

[SuperKirby]

I would guess front axle U-joints. You should be able feel some play in them if they're going out. I know this from experience.

 

[93Expo4x4]

yes they are auto locking hubs. ill put it up on the lift at my shop during my lunch saturday and see what the issue is. been having alot of noises in the front end lately.

 

[87xjmike]

Swap hubs asap!
With 33's the auto hubs only lasted me two months and then started popping. I let it pop to long and got stuck on a gnarly hill while in 4low and ended up against a tree when the hub finally blew because i had no fwd. I cleaned them with atf and throughly inspected everything at the beginning of the 2 months an they looked great then. I likely put it in 4low once every week. Snow wheeling, local trails, water crossings etc, not easy wheeling on parts by any means. They're junk if you want to actually have fun with reliability. For average use with a stock setup they'll likely last much longer.

 

[Watchman]

I have the auto hubs and mine has the same clicking noise when in 4WD. When I take it out of 4WD, stop and then back up a few feet I hear a click, otherwise you can continue to hear the clicking in 2WD. I prefer the auto hubs when driving in snow on the interstate, then I can take it out of 4WD. Problem is the clicking won't stop.

Be interested in what you find. It's definitely coming from the hubs.

 

[cmhaah06]

I say it's your hubs. I wheeled my ex with auto hubs and 31's pretty hard. Then one day they had enough. They started popping then stopped working altogether. They left me half way up a trail with only two wheel drive. It sucked but I had to turn back because I couldn't make it up a rooted out section of the trail and the trail not gnarlier from that point on. Buy the jeep hubs, machine the axles for full snap rings, throw the upgraded spicer ujoints in them and you'll have plenty of strength in the front axle. I currently run 35's, a ARB and have the same axle upgrades. I've had no problems and there is no popping.