Front end noise?

linkovich · 11-14-2007, 07:31 PM

The last few weeks I've had a noise coming from the front end that I can't figure out. Sounds like a bad bearing and its only when I'm rolling. I jacked it up and checked for any play or slop in the wheel bearings and the U joints and they all seemed ok. What else could it be or what else should I check?

oh yeah, 2000 4x4 4.0

severous01 · 11-14-2007, 09:32 PM

ummmm....tires? what brand/make do you have? if you have some serious meats they'll sound like a grinding sound when they wear unevenly. or, if you have what's called feathering of the tires...it sounds like a wheel bearing.

i was chasing my own tail after a feathered set of tires once. i replaced all joints and bearings in the driveline...nothing. then i rubbed my hand across a tire one day and found the front of each tread block had meat while the back of each block had almost none....weird.

linkovich · 11-15-2007, 03:18 PM

I just have bridgestone dueler AT's right now, they're pretty much worn i guess that could be it.

sprintagogo · 11-15-2007, 03:41 PM

I have what sounds like a similar noise on my 2000 4ltr XJ. I would swear it was a wheel bearing except it doesn't change when cornering and there is no detectable play in the bearings. It does seem to be getting louder over the last few months. I have messed around running with just a rear prop then just a front prop and this makes no difference. I am reasonably sure it must be a front axle bearing probably in the front diff. I should know for sure in the next few weeks when I swap out my low pinion axle for an earlier high pinion D30 (unless that one is also bad, My friend said it was silent when I towed the doner vehicle home with a dead engine). I have also changed tyres from stock road tyres to bigger mud terrains and these dont generate any detectable noise above the bearing rumble. I will post again with the results once the deed is done.

Carnutzzz · 11-15-2007, 04:10 PM

I think I have the same noise from newish Michelins. Mine sounds like a light roar from the front end at anything over 45-50 I believe.

I've had the vehicle looked over and nothing was found. I think these are just loud loud vehicles.

XJumpmaster · 11-15-2007, 04:37 PM

I have a hp d30 on my 2000 and it also sounds like a bearing. It is speed dependent. From a low growl at low speeds to a loud whine at high speeds. Tires are fine and not due to MTs! It is in the front axle.

Sorry to hijack, but am curious about this as well.

linkovich · 11-16-2007, 10:45 AM

Mine seems to not be as bad at high speeds, or maybe I just can hear it. I have a buddy with an extra set of wheels and tires that I'm going to put on and see if that helps.

midfat · 11-16-2007, 05:20 PM

Don't assume it's the tires just because there's no play in the hub bearing. I too had the same issue. My Jeep sounded like a freight train when I was driving at freeway speeds. I had it to the mechanic twice to check the front hubs. Both times, he told me everything seemed tight. He also told me it was probably the tires. I spent almost $600 on new tires and it didn't make any difference. Finally, I broke down, bought two new hub bearings and changed them myself. While the bearings were both still tight, when I pulled them, they were both shot. It literally felt as though the bearing was filled with gravel. Moral of the story, trust your instinct and don't put much credence in the old wives tail that bearing WILL have play in it if it's bad.

kafer1963 · 11-16-2007, 06:43 PM

Midfat,

Perhaps you could read my recent post" front bearing hub assembly"?
I am contemplating what to do on mine. change out the whole assembly or just replace new bearings races and seals.

Which route did you go?

Sorry to hijack thread but I think their both related.

linkovich · 11-16-2007, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kafer1963

Midfat,

Perhaps you could read my recent post" front bearing hub assembly"?
I am contemplating what to do on mine. change out the whole assembly or just replace new bearings races and seals.

Which route did you go?

Sorry to hijack thread but I think their both related.

Everything that i've read has said it much easier to just replace the whole hub assembly then try to just change out the bearings

midfat · 11-17-2007, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kafer1963

Midfat,

Perhaps you could read my recent post" front bearing hub assembly"?
I am contemplating what to do on mine. change out the whole assembly or just replace new bearings races and seals.

Which route did you go?

Sorry to hijack thread but I think their both related.

The entire hub assembly is one piece. Even if you could rebuild the assembly, I don't think it would be worth the time. Just slap in a new bearing and call it a day.

Rob Hollar · 11-17-2007, 07:24 PM

An easy way you can find out if you have a bearing failure is to jack up your vehicle and use jackstands. With one hand place it on the coil spring and the other spin your wheel. See if you can feel a vibation in the spring. If you can then you have a bad wheel bearing. I am a local shop owner and I have found untold # of cars with bad bearings that way that had no slop. Good luck in your search...Rob

Carnutzzz · 11-18-2007, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Hollar

An easy way you can find out if you have a bearing failure is to jack up your vehicle and use jackstands. With one hand place it on the coil spring and the other spin your wheel. See if you can feel a vibation in the spring. If you can then you have a bad wheel bearing. I am a local shop owner and I have found untold # of cars with bad bearings that way that had no slop. Good luck in your search...Rob

Thanks Rob, I'm going to try that.

linkovich · 11-18-2007, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Hollar

An easy way you can find out if you have a bearing failure is to jack up your vehicle and use jackstands. With one hand place it on the coil spring and the other spin your wheel. See if you can feel a vibation in the spring. If you can then you have a bad wheel bearing. I am a local shop owner and I have found untold # of cars with bad bearings that way that had no slop. Good luck in your search...Rob

I will try that in the morning, thanks for the tip

crumb · 11-18-2007, 07:39 PM

I had a constant wine and tried a bunch of stuff to get rid of it. Finally I changed the gearing in my front dana 30 and the wine was gone. I replaced a pinion bearing that was bad. That is what was causing my noise.
So there is another possibility.
Good luck

11-14-2007, 09:32 PM	#2
severous01 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hamilton, NJ Posts: 2,118 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	ummmm....tires? what brand/make do you have? if you have some serious meats they'll sound like a grinding sound when they wear unevenly. or, if you have what's called feathering of the tires...it sounds like a wheel bearing. i was chasing my own tail after a feathered set of tires once. i replaced all joints and bearings in the driveline...nothing. then i rubbed my hand across a tire one day and found the front of each tread block had meat while the back of each block had almost none....weird. __________________ 1994 jeep cherokee, xj, 3" rough country springs / bilstein 5100's, 31" tires with trimmed fenders, aussie locked front diff, herculined ext, hella FF75 driving lights on factory fog location [COLOR="Lime"]soon to be[/COLOR] 4.11 gear and and a ford 8.8 LSD rear and herc'd interior

11-15-2007, 04:10 PM	#5
Carnutzzz Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Norcross, GA Posts: 196 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	I think I have the same noise from newish Michelins. Mine sounds like a light roar from the front end at anything over 45-50 I believe. I've had the vehicle looked over and nothing was found. I think these are just loud loud vehicles. __________________ 2000 Cherokee Limited 4x4 1987 Porsche 911 "Every government interference in the economy consists of giving an unearned benefit, extorted by force, to some men at the expense of others." -Ayn Rand

11-15-2007, 03:18 PM	#3
linkovich Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 44 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	I just have bridgestone dueler AT's right now, they're pretty much worn i guess that could be it.

11-15-2007, 04:37 PM	#6
XJumpmaster Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sandy, Ut Posts: 18 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	I have a hp d30 on my 2000 and it also sounds like a bearing. It is speed dependent. From a low growl at low speeds to a loud whine at high speeds. Tires are fine and not due to MTs! It is in the front axle. Sorry to hijack, but am curious about this as well.

11-16-2007, 10:45 AM	#7
linkovich Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 44 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Mine seems to not be as bad at high speeds, or maybe I just can hear it. I have a buddy with an extra set of wheels and tires that I'm going to put on and see if that helps.

11-16-2007, 06:43 PM	#9
kafer1963 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: upstate NY Posts: 23 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Midfat, Perhaps you could read my recent post" front bearing hub assembly"? I am contemplating what to do on mine. change out the whole assembly or just replace new bearings races and seals. Which route did you go? Sorry to hijack thread but I think their both related.

11-17-2007, 07:24 PM	#12
Rob Hollar Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Mentor Ohio Posts: 140 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	An easy way you can find out if you have a bearing failure is to jack up your vehicle and use jackstands. With one hand place it on the coil spring and the other spin your wheel. See if you can feel a vibation in the spring. If you can then you have a bad wheel bearing. I am a local shop owner and I have found untold # of cars with bad bearings that way that had no slop. Good luck in your search...Rob