41
FRONT AXLE - 4
X
4
CONDITION
POSSIBLE CAUSES
Noise in all driving modes
Road and tires, wheel bearings
Noise changes with type of road surface
Road and tires
Noise tone lowers with vehicle speed
Tires
Noise increase on turns
Differential pinion and side gears, axle wheel bearings
Noise in one or more driving modes
Ring and pinion gears
Clunk on change of speed or
Worn differential shaft or thrust washers worn U-joints
direction of power flow
Wheel noise
Wheel loose; faulty or bad wheel bearing
Vibration
Damaged drive shaft, missing drive shaft balance weight,
worn or out-of-balance wheels, loose wheel nuts, worn U-
joints, loose/broken spring, damaged axle shaft bearings,
loose pinion gear nut, excessive pinion yoke run out, bent
axle shaft.
Differential gears scored
Insufficient lubrication, improper grade of lubricant,
lubricant contamination, excessive spinning of wheels.
Loss of lubricant
Lubricant level too high, worn axle shaft seals, cracked
differential housing, worn drive pinion gear shaft seal,
scored and worn yoke, axle cover not properly sealed,
plugged vent or vent tube.
Axle overheating
Lubricant level too low, incorrect grade of lubricant,
contaminated lubricant, bearing preload too high,
excessive gear wear, insufficient ring gear backlash.
Gear teeth broken
Overloading, erratic clutch operating, wheel spinning,
improper adjustment
Axle gear noise
Insufficient lubricant, incorrect backlash, improper tooth
contact, worn/damaged gears
Axle noise
Insufficient lubricant, improper ring gear and drive pinion
gear adjustment, unmatched ring gear and drive pinion
gear, worn teeth on ring gear or drive pinion gear, Loose
drive pinion gear shaft bearings, loose differential
bearings, misaligned ring and pinion gear, loose differential
bearing capscrews, worn bearings.
Limited slip differential
The most common problem is a "chatter" noise when
turning corners. The probable cause is in correct or
contaminated lubricant or lack of friction modifier additive
in the lubricant.
Worn or damaged plates and discs plates and discs
TROUBLE SHOOTING :




