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Bad wheel bearing maybe ?

20K views 16 replies 9 participants last post by  newfieZJ 
#1 ·
So ive been trying to figure out where this whining oooo high pitch maybe whistle noise is coming from on the 5.9, i recorded a video and posted it and ive had suggestions maybe its the pinion bearing on the rear end, maybe the whole rear end needs to be rebuilt.

However i noticed something today when sitting on the passenger seat you dont hear it. My brother has better hearing then i do and he couldnt hear the noise when i was hearing it while driving. My mom drove the Jeep and i couldnt hear it on the passenger side either..

Im starting to wonder could thisd whistle noise be the front left wheel bearing instead ? Its starting to do the whistle noises at most speed now between 20-70mph, it only used to do it around 55. It pretty much stops in noise as you accelerate, and starts making noise when i let off the gas and coast.

I did recently change the front differential with coastal 80w-90 Differential oil. Its a DANA 30 so it doesnt need anything else but that kind of oil. The differential on the front is more on the driver side. Altho if it was the differential wouldnt you hear it anywhere in the car ?

Anyway, what are the signs.. Noises of a bad wheel bearing ? Sometimes the Jeep also "POPS" when im parking and turn the wheel. Not all the time but it will pop from under the Jeep in the front when i turn into a parking slot.
 
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#2 ·
Signs of a bad wheel bearing are usually a growling or low rumbling kind of sound. A bad wheel bearing will make noise at any speed regardless of direction or throttle and may be more pronounced in a turn. A bad right side bearing would be more pronounced in a left turn and a left bearing when turning right. Pinion bearings, on the other hand, will make a higher pitch wining/whirring type of noise and are affected by being on/off the throttle. The popping noise while turning could indicate a u-joint. To check the wheel bearing, jack the wheel up and turn it by hand. You may hear/feel it if it is going bad. You can also grab the wheel at 12 and 6 and then at 3 and 9 o'clock and shake it. That will show play in the bearing, if any. The u-joint is checked the same way as for a drive shaft. You can also check the pinion for play by seeing if it has any lateral movement. Hope this helps.
 
#3 ·
Helps alot, but what im wondering is what do you personally think it could be if its only heared on the drivers side ? Anyone in the passenger seat they cant hear the noise and they think im going crazy, until they drive the Jeep then they can hear it also.

If it was the rear pinion for example wouldnt you be able to hear this noise anywhere in the Jeep ? Man this sucks, i think i am going crazy trying to figure out this noise. Im going to drive the Jeep and do some whacky turning. I heared if you drive the vehicle and the noise goes away as you turn left or right then its a wheel bearing. I have tried moving the rear drive shaft by the differential and it wont budge.. It has Zero play in it no matter which direction i try to move or pull it, it does have some play by the transfercase tho, it moves ever so slightly any direction and the movement makes a little poping sound.
 
#4 ·
Re-read what I posted, you can check much of this without driving it. The pinion noise, if that's what it is, could be coming from the front. I also commented on bad wheel bearings and corners.
 
#5 ·
K I will jack it up tomarow then and check the wheels, I wonder if its making this noise because i changed the front differential oil. I put 80w-90 in the dana 30, but sadly i dont remember this noise before i did it because the Jeep was fairly new. Oh and when i drove it just now, i opened the driver window and it was kinda hard to hear with the wind and the fact my left ear cant hear high pitched noises very well, however i could almost hear the same noise outside as i do inside.

I'll wiggle the drive shaft tomarow in the front and see
 
#8 ·
Ok a little update, the rear drive shaft as i said doesnt budge. The front drive shaft i checked this morning and it wont move either near the differential. The front drive shaft has a CV joint on it near the differential tho and a U joint near the transfer case. I do hear a little wiggle noise near the transfer case but its not coming from the U joint its from inside the transfer case. Both the rear and front do this, and it does this on the 4.0 Jeep as well so im assuming this is normal. The rear shaft wont twist , but the front shaft has a little play in it when you twist it.

I havent Jacked the Jeep up yet I will do that later today, i dont have a jack for it yet so i have to use the one that came with the Jeep and since that jack doesnt go up high enough if you use it on the frame and not the axle i need to use soem bricks to make it higher. I dont want to jack the jeep up on the axle cause i heared it can bend it. Anyway I'll let you know what happens when i check the wheels.

Oh and yes i know not to go under the Jeep... Im just getting it up higher so the front wheels arent touching the ground so i can move them and wiggle em.
 
#9 ·
K jacked the car up in the front, spinned the wheels however for some reason the brakes were holding the wheels so i could get them to spin without me moving them. transmission was in neutral, looked at the pads and they were sticking to the rotors.. E brake wasnt up either, anyway the front tires wouldnt move at the 12-6 and 3-9.

Check the rear as well and i couldnt even get the tires to spin, the damn brakes were holding them in place. However they werent wobbling either.

So if this noise can only be heared on the drivers side, then i assume its probably the front differential maybe ? I guess i need to bring it to a shop now to see what it is. Not sure what else i can do to check it
 
#10 ·
hey candyman, any update on this? Ive got a loud "whirring/humming/rotational" noise too coming from the ront drivers side. I shook my wheels at 3 and 9 but no play, at 12 ad 6 however i heard a clicking noise, with very small play. suspected hub assembly, when i get down to the hub, there is no play, the knuckle is slightly moving on my ball joints, and thats the clicking. but my hub assembly looks and feels good. just hoping to pin point this out. thanks.
 
#15 ·
Hey candyman- I know this is an old thread, but did you ever figure this out? I have the same symptoms going on right now, and im trying to figure it out. Any help would be appreciated.
 
#17 ·
Noises , hard to find but there are ways .

1) take it to a garage equipped with 'mouse ears' . They get stuck on different areas and measure sound . Loudest wins :) . You now know where the issue is .

2) buy an infrared thermometer and look for hot spots on anything you suspect . If bearings are an issue , lots of heat will be generated in that area .

Noises are hard to diagnose in person , it's just a guess online . These two methods will point at the problem . #2 being DIY at minimal expense is my favorite .
 
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