ratchet sound and bumping from front end

[bob lawrence]

My 96 4.0 4X4 ex (137,000 miles) has just begun (or I've at least just noticed) making a sound like a ratchet being turned, or like one of those noise makers from halloween or new year's that you turn in your hand. It's definitely not a grinding or rubbing sound. I can't pinpoint where its coming from and can't find any posts where similar noises have been complained about.

Is this the kind of sound that would come from bad u-joints or cv's? It is constant whether driving straight ahead or turning, and doesn't make the noise unless the axles are turning. I lifted the front end turned the wheels by hand with no results. Apparently the wheels have to turn at a faster rate than I was able to do by hand. It sounds like its more forward than the transfer case, so I don't think that's where it's coming from. Or would it more likely be coming from the transfer case? Also, lately I've noticed a bumping coming in the front end, sort of like an unbalanced washing machine, but alot more subtle. Any ideas? Thanks for taking a look.

 

[Jason94sport]

U-joints would sound like that. I had that noise before & new U-joints fixed it.

 

[Grovebaby]

Is this in 4x4?

 

[Rhett]

If it does it in 2WD, I would take a look at the sway bar ends. I've had them get loose and it did a "ratcheting" type sound at times. But since you say your sound is pretty much constant, that to me sounds more like a possible driveline/rotating mass sound, as in u-joint, or brake/rotor assembly.

 

[bob lawrence]

Grove: it's a 4X4.

the u-joints are what i suspect. hoping that it's not the transfer case. any idea about what the thumping is?

 

[bob lawrence]

sorry, grove, i misread your post. it happens when it's driven in 4X2, but does it in 4X4 too.

 

[Jason94sport]

Thumping may be the u-joints rubbing each other because they are bad.