Front end noise....(hubs locked)

Status:  Rebuilt transfer case, broke front hubs apart and regreased, drained/ replaced fluids in front diff, dropped front drive shaft and greased (seemed good)

Problem: when hubs are locked I feel/hear major "clunk" in front end.

If in 4x or 2x in the transfer case same noise.  Turning sharp or wheels straight, same noise.  Sounds like a rotating part, my question is where to start?

Options:  Wheel bearings, drive shaft, third member?

What do you guys think?

Just a thought...have you checked the U-Joints in the front axle?

Hi Genthree..,

Give us a bit more info...?

Is this "clunk" over & over or just once..?  Meaning does it keep clunking as you roll on..?

Guess would be the front axle shaft(s) U-joints. (Ron thought the same thing.!)

You can see them and attempt to wiggle them with a screwdriver, (while up on jack stands)

behind brake backing plate.

Mine slightly wiggled & when removed, there were NO roller bearings left in the pass. side U-joint caps.

Amazing they worked at all.

It's actually an easy job, if in fact, they're bad.

Bob,  How long have you had the Sears Bearing Grease?  Must have bought it shortly after your first Bronco was purchased new off the showroom floor   /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

Thanks for the tips, I will open up the hubs and have another look...

How funny.., my senior neighbors (pushing 80) moved back to calif. to be closer to their kids.

He unloaded all kinds of stuff on the neighbors that he didn't want to move/take with him.

Trust that I don't use it (Sears grease) on anything important..., mostly surface & thread coating, etc.

It has the feel/consistency of 1/2 frozen butter.... ^_^ /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

You don't have to pull the hubs to insp. the U-joints.... you can see them at the back side of the

brake backing plate.., inside the knuckle.

With the hubs unlocked, you can poke prod & turn them with a screwdriver to determine their

condition.

Up on jackstands, you can (in 2x) lock the hubs, spin the wheel & hear the hub engage.

(You can hear them  kinda "pop" into place.)

When disengaged they should turn pretty easy with screwdriver.

I've heard where folks over pack hubs with grease & the system struggles with movement.

A partly engaged hub will "click" a bit but not likely "clunk"

Again, is this clunk a "one time thing" or a continuous clunk..?

If you have to pull the axles..., post on this thread & I'll give ya some tips if needed...

Hope this is clear as mud .....   :huh:

Waiting..., what's the rest of this story.... :-B    :-"     |-)

My wife cleaned out the garage....

Which included putting the Bronco outside under it's cover.  It's been too cold and wet to do anything that involves me getting under the rig.  I am working on stripping and painting doors right now....