[Drake]

I didn't disassemble the hub to fully inspect it because I didn't have the proper tools to reassemble nor a clean area to work on it. I just examined the splines and looked for any signs of shavings or junk in it. The only difference in the two hubs was that the "suspect" hub (the one opposite of the noise) had discolored grease. It was blackish whereas the other side still had really clean whitish or cream colored grease.

Not sure if any of this is helping but I really don't want to invest in a replacement hub if it's not the problem. Losing a hub at 50K just seems a little too early but with the way I wheel, it's possible.

 

[pvfjr]

one ?how do you expect him to accomplish this request.. LOL

He's talking about a noise in 2wd right? The hub could pretty much only cause the problem by not properly disengaging. So I say, take it out completely. If it's raining bad, duct tape a yogurt container over the hole to keep your wheel bearings dry. Then test drive it for a bit. Try it with one hub at a time, see if you can figure out a pattern.

 

[Drake]

I'll give that a try tomorrow hopefully. The weather is supposed to get nasty the next couple of days but if it stays dry I will pop them off and make a few laps around my neighborhood. I've noticed they give a solid pop when I'm braking and hit our speed breakers (small trenches in the street basically). When the wheels make that first dip into it, they give a loud pop followed by a lighter pop as the momentum rocks it.

I've also found a member of my NOAS club who is about to install manuals on theirs and said I had first dibs on their autos if I need one.

 

[Anthony]

any update?

 

[Guest]

It sounds like the beginning of one of your auto locking hubs going bad. Pull the drivers side one apart and inspect for wear/damage (you'll actually hear the clunk in the opposite wheel, so if its clunking on the passenger side, check the driver side).

Most likely, one of the next times you use 4wd, the hub will fail and you'll hear a nice grinding noise, then you'll know for sure what the problem is

This is exactly what I would think it is!...But Check your shock, and brakes as well... Tie rod ends and everything you can for the fault...


GOOD LUCK !!!

 

[Drake]

The only new symptoms I've picked up on were yesterday when I was working on removing my brushguard. I put it in neutral and just let it roll back out of my driveway to get it out of the water to work on it. When I let off the break to let it roll it made the clunk again. And it will only pop/clunk at very slow speeds. Say maybe around 5 mph at the most.

If I can make it to the NOAS Member Run this weekend in Milledgeville Georgia (6 hours away), a few members said we could use their on-site garage and they would give me a hub and install it for me if that was the problem.

 

[json3904]

WOW that is some cool stuff...... gladf to hear they will help you out....

 

[Guest]

That ROCKS !!! See we need more members nation wide that are like this!
We need state chapters of this club!!

 

[Drake]

Well I believe I can say without a doubt now that it's my hubs. You guys can back me up on this but here's the newest symptom.

Just tonight as I was coming home from dinner, I started hearing a light ticking sound and it was in rhythm with the wheels revolutions (faster I went the faster the ticking). It's still doing all of the other clunks I've talked about before but now this ticking has begun and I'm hoping it's the one sign you guys can use to tell me definitively that it's my hubs.

You guys have no idea how bad this is bumming me out to have my X limping right now. :heul3-big:

 

[hardcore xterra]

im sry too say it but i had that same problem would start my car and rev the engine to 4 rpms and no sound but i would back it out if my drive way and here a clucking/clicking sound coming from my engine.... that waht i thought brought it to dealer and watched them take my hubs off and one was crack one the inside and there was stredded metal all inside of it they thold me my brearing was in alot of danger if i were to keep driving on it had my t-case checked and it was okey but got a new auto hub from dealer cost me somwhere around 200 dollars could have bought a used hub for 45 dollars without shipping from some junkyard like place but i ask them if i put it on and there is no change can i send it back they told me no but when i called dealer if i bought a brand new hub that it would come with a 10,000 mile warrentty and they with replace any damage to my hub or related damage to my hub so thats what i end up doin it took away the noises completly and from on im just trying to be carful shifting into 4x4.....

 

[Drake]

Well I think I've solved at least part of my clunk issue. I was looking (like I do every weekend) at my wheel and front-end trying to figure out what could be causing the problem and saw something I have no idea how I missed before.

The front crossmember where the LCA bolts into is completely smashed on the passenger side at the LCA bracket. There is almost 1/2" clearance on the driver's side but the damaged side is/was touching the LCA. I managed to pry it about 1/16 to maybe an 1/8" gap but it was all I could do without having a torch to heat the metal. And the weather is sketchy here so I don't want to pull the whole wheel assembly, control arms and all to hammer it out.

I'll post some pics tomorrow and show you guys what I'm talking about. It must have taken one hell of a blow on the trails.

 

[json3904]

yeah take some pics drake i would love to see what you mystery problem has been all this time... LOL

 

[pvfjr]

Dang, I wouldn't have expected all that. Nice one. Hope you can figure out how to straighten it out.

 

[Anthony]

My passenger side cross member has been smashed into my lca since ECXC 2006, but it never made any noise so I just left it. LOL

 

[Drake]

Hah! That's exactly where mine is smashed. I'm about to run out and snap a pic or two of it close-up.

I don't think it's the source of my clunk either but it's definitely something I want to straighten back out. Allen told me one more trick to try and if it doesn't cure it then my baby's going to the hospital (dealership).

 

[Drake]

Here are some shots side-by-side so you can see how it looks and how it should look. You can see where I've managed to pry a small gap but still not anywhere close to what it should be.

 

[pvfjr]

Yeah, I think you're gonna have to keep searching if you want to find your clunk.

 

[Drake]

IT'S FIXED!!!

No more clunky... no more clicky... just rides smooth as glass now. My baby's a healthy dirty girl again!

I bought a new set of DD tires yesterday and had them do an alignment as well and when I drove it off the lot... no more clunk, click or anything. I turned back around and went back to the place (Big 10 Tires btw) and asked the mechanic what he did.

I told him what all I had been putting up with and trying to debunk and fix and he said that it seems like I got a piss-poor alignment job after I did my PML. I had a really bad "toe-in" on the passenger side and running high positive camber angles which he said probably had something with the brakes in a bind but couldn't say for sure.

Either way... I feel like an ass because I couldn't figure it out and not to mention the 5 or 6 Saturdays I spent tearing wheel assemblies apart, pulling tires, checking axles, bushings and all sorts of shit only to get a friggin' $50 alignment and it be fixed.

:stupid:

 

[gixxersixxerman]

good job.......... bet tat took a huge weight off your shouders lol

 

[json3904]

glad to hear that its fixed drake....