Roaring sound from front end?

Cherokeekid88

Cherokeekid88

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2007
Location
High Point, NC
I have noticed that whenever I am cruising along (45 mph or so) everything sounds fine..as soon as I let my foot off the gas or hit the brakes to slow down, I can hear a roar sounds that continues untill I come to stop. When I hit the gas, I don't hear it anymore until I start slowing down...My girls XJ had hear pinion bearing go out on hers and this sounds nothing like that...hers was shaking and vibrating like crazy.....mine her was just past the point of no return?
 
There could be multiple things causing it. I had something similar to this and it was with my brake calipers. 1 of the caliper bolts worked itself loose and caused the caliper to hang and the pads were rubbing all the time. This is one of the quickest things to check and eliminate as a cause. It is also pretty easy to fix as well. Hope it helps. But like said there are possible other causes.
 
what kind of rig?


I have had that in the past and still do on my buggy...


I've found some is normal from the gears in a coast motion. But, in a r&p, I dunno. I'd be a little weary if I heard it from a r&p. Could be loose/worn bearings too...
 
rockcity said:
what kind of rig?
I have had that in the past and still do on my buggy...
I've found some is normal from the gears in a coast motion. But, in a r&p, I dunno. I'd be a little weary if I heard it from a r&p. Could be loose/worn bearings too...
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Sorry. 97 XJ D30/8.25 4.5" 33's. Well the rear was recently regeared and all new parts installed. front shaft was pulled, to keep from any damage to front end, incase of accidental engagement of 4x4, (front end is not regeared yet)

its been doing it for a while now...just haven't had the time/money to really worry about it. I am using Yukon gears for the rear.
 
i'd start small.....check brakes first, hub assembly/bearings, then move on to the ball joints. maybe pop the diff cover if that all looks fine
 
88 BII said:
i'd start small.....check brakes first, hub assembly/bearings, then move on to the ball joints. maybe pop the diff cover if that all looks fine
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If the pinion bearing is going in the front diff, will there be shavings from that?

I am not much of an axle guy...I helped do my rear end and install that, but other than that, I might as well be looking at the human brain.
 
there could be. i suspect the bearing would grenade instead of just having shavings though. the r&p could have chipped teeth, but i would think you'd hear that while accelrating as well and probably at all speeds.

having you ever changed the ball joints? 33's are gonna put a lot more stress on factory BJ's than normal tires.

did you ever run it in 4wd after you changed out the rear gears?
 
The ball joints are factory for all I know. I dont know if the PO changed them out or not....

When the rear was re geared, I pulled the front shaft so that I was to not damage anything if I were to accidentally engage it into 4wd.

Yeah on the chipped teth on the R&P, I don't hear it very often...but would worn ball joints make sounds like that?
 
yep, happened on my 2000 explorer. anytime i slowed (from 25mph or faster), it made a really nasty grinding noise. driver lower BJ was toast. need to do the pass side now i think.

just start small and work your way up.
 
88 BII said:
yep, happened on my 2000 explorer. anytime i slowed (from 25mph or faster), it made a really nasty grinding noise. driver lower BJ was toast. need to do the pass side now i think.
just start small and work your way up.
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ok thats good to know. Just don't have alot of moola to throw at it right now. Might take it up my buddies and get him to look at it and go from there.
 
BJ's are easy to fix yourself. they're pretty cheap and you can rent a BJ press from autozone. i was a fool and paid meineke to fix mine (around $450). for my car the lower BJ is $20 and i can rent a BJ press from autozne for free. would've taken a couple hours, but it wouldnt have been $500 out of pocket.

def get some help, if you were in raleigh, i'd take a look at it for you. i re did my entire front end on my bronco before i put it under the truck (all but the rotors)
 
yep, i'd pull off the tire and work my way from the outside in. hubs, wheel bearings, rotors, calipers, pads BJ's, etc.
 
Knowing whether it is the axle shafts pulled or the driveshaft makes a huge difference on determining the problem. That sounds like the description of a rear pinion bearing but since there is no power being given to the front axle the load on the pinion bearing shouldnt be changing at all during acceleration or deceleration.
 
1997tj said:
Knowing whether it is the axle shafts pulled or the driveshaft makes a huge difference on determining the problem. That sounds like the description of a rear pinion bearing but since there is no power being given to the front axle the load on the pinion bearing shouldnt be changing at all during acceleration or deceleration.
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I know my post probalby isn't all that clear...I have been posted this is several places to try and find out what the problem is...I haven't had a chance to get under the jeep yet and try to eliminate possibilities one by one.

The front DRIVEshaft is pulled. the rear was regeared maybe a year ago. The problem is I really don't know how to describe the sound...roaring obviously describes the rear pinion going bad, but at the same time, its not that loud or that severe. just the fact that its there and shouldn't be. but to me, when I listen carefully, its sounds like it is coming from the front end and not the rear. If it is the rear pinion bearing, then I am just going to regear again to 4:56 instead of 4:10, and then get the front done at the same time.
 
Well, since the rear is detrimental to you driving or not since the front isn't operational, check the rear first. Pulling the cover should be an easy task even for the beginner shadetree mechanic.

If all that looks OK, check bearings. Check oil in your transfercase. I've had a roaring sound come from my transfercase and manual trans and it was low fluid eating up gears and bearings. And, with the roaring changing upon acceleration and deceleration, gears somewhere would be my bet...
 
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