Noise up front

[mastercamper]

I've noticed a new noise in the past few days, only hear it at lower speeds,10 - 20 mph or so and usually under a load. It makes no noise at 10-15 if my foot is off the gas or going up hill or while idling.

I associate the sound that would come from something spinning like a drive shaft but wouldn't that make a noise all the time?

It'll be Friday before I can get up under it, just looking for suggestions.

Thanks,
Eric

 

[mastercamper]

I checked nothing seems to be loose, the front right wheel has a little play in it when I jacked it up, woud that cause a noise when in the lower gears and pulling up hill?

 

[group captain mandrake]

I associate the sound that would come from something spinning like a drive shaft but wouldn't that make a noise all the time?

No.

My front u-joints barely made any noise at all, just started to chirp a little on low speed light load. When I checked them, one was ready to grenade.

Even doing that likely won't reveal a u-joint that's seized. You have to remove at least one end to really do a good check.

I would suggest a close inspection of your front joints.

 

[mastercamper]

mines not really a chirp more of a sound when turning, can't actually describe the sound, goes away when coasting and above 25 mph or so, what should I look for when inspecting the u joint?

 

[group captain mandrake]

I was pretty much responding to your question about driveshaft noises occuring all the time. Sometimes a joint won't make any noise at all until it grenades. Your noise could be a driveshaft (u-joint), cv joint, hub/bearing, or a brake problem.
As far as what to look for concerning your u-joints, a quick search for driveshaft/propshaft/u-joints would give you tons more information than I could.
Keep us posted.

 

[mastercamper]

Don't know if it matters but I put new tires on two weeks ago and had it in a little mud after that thats when the noise started, got about 800 miles or so since the larger tires.

I searched about the u joint replacement, I'm going to re check the joint today for any play, may even pull one end to check for play.

If it is a joint, can the truck be driven with the front shaft out while I fix it?

 

[group captain mandrake]

Your '03 probably does not have cdl, if so, it can't be driven without the front shaft.

 

[mastercamper]

nope no cdl

 

[peter sherman]

I checked nothing seems to be loose, the front right wheel has a little play in it when I jacked it up, woud that cause a noise when in the lower gears and pulling up hill?

best find way!
ck lube in the swivels & diff..
don't even screw with the stock ujs just rebuild the shaft & be done is it worth a tranny

 

[mastercamper]

sorry swivles, I'll check the diff level today

 

[peter sherman]

swivles oops! you ain't got em!

 

[mastercamper]

Thanks

 

[mastercamper]

Topped off diffs noise still there going to pull one end of drive shaft and check for play.

Is it possible that its a cat or exahust leak?

 

[group captain mandrake]

What does the noise sound like?

 

[mastercamper]

Its no loud, no grinds poping, slack, kinda a low dull chunk,chunk....... very low can barley hear it during acceleration once over 20-25mph or so it goes away, no noise coasting or at speed.

I can barley feel the clunk just very faint.

It seems to have started in the last week, hasn't gotten any louder.

 

[group captain mandrake]

Kinda hard to tell from your description, could be u-joint, could be cv joint, could be something completely different. It wouldn't hurt to check the u-joints anyway, it doesn't take very long. Unbolt the rear flange & rotate all joints by hand. Should feel smooth & easy. Look closely for broken or rusty cups.

 

[mastercamper]

just found a zerk on the front, going to grease that and unbolt and check the others.

 

[mastercamper]

greased front and rear, took front ds off at front and no excessive play or any at all really, only movement seems to be from output shaft from transfer case. put ds back on and could move drive shaft a little at transfer case.

And I burnt my fingers on the cats.

 

[barefoot]

have you cleaned the mud off of everything? also, if you were playing in mud you could have taken a chunk out of a tire. take that thing to the wash!

play at the t-case (a little) is normal.

dont worry about the burn....it will heal

enjoy!

 

[mastercamper]

I washed it on sunday, I did not get up under her very well, will do that might even pull the front wheels off and check for mud. I was up under the truck for a while and did not see any gobs of mud, but I'll re check. Greased what I could see, are their any graease fittings behind the wheels? Maybe I should check the rave cd for fittings.

Funny how the cats don't cool at the same rate as the exhaust.