front axle vibration

[walkercreekbronco]

This is going to be a long question, but I think I need to tell the whole story to get a good answer.

A couple of months ago I destroyed the spider gears in my stock rearend. The ring and pinion were fine, so I rebuilt the rearend with Detroit Locker, 31 spline axles, and new brakes.

I finally got everything put back together. I was going to wait to test drive it, but I really wanted to go play in the snow. I started out in four wheel drive and when I got about half way out to the county road (about 35mph) I noticed a growling/vibration. Right away I thought something was wrong with the locker/gear set. When I disengaged the front axle, the vibration went away. When I ran with the front axle only, the growling was still there. I got back home and with the Bronco sitting on the floor in gear (both axles) I could rotate the front axle by hand about (1/8) turn. It looked like there was play in my front hubs. Would this cause the vibration? Could I have broke something in the hubs when I took out the rearend?

 

[Yardape]

Most logical to me would be check the u-joints on the front driveshaft. Then start narrowing down from there

 

[EvlFaust]

Yeah, same thing happened to me. It turned out that I just needed to replace a u-joint and it went away. As Yardape said, that would be the best place to start.

 

[Justbust1n]

This is going to be a long question, but I think I need to tell the whole story to get a good answer.
A couple of months ago I destroyed the spider gears in my stock rearend. The ring and pinion were fine, so I rebuilt the rearend with Detroit Locker, 31 spline axles, and new brakes.

I finally got everything put back together. I was going to wait to test drive it, but I really wanted to go play in the snow. I started out in four wheel drive and when I got about half way out to the county road (about 35mph) I noticed a growling/vibration. Right away I thought something was wrong with the locker/gear set. When I disengaged the front axle, the vibration went away. When I ran with the front axle only, the growling was still there. I got back home and with the Bronco sitting on the floor in gear (both axles) I could rotate the front axle by hand about (1/8) turn. It looked like there was play in my front hubs. Would this cause the vibration? Could I have broke something in the hubs when I took out the rearend?

thats what mine did i had to replace the tire rod ends and the the SPINDLE BEARINGS........ r u talkin about breakin something in the front end by workin in the rear??? i dont thin thats possible unless you changes the rear end ring and pinion ... it has the be the same dont change it if its 3.55 and your front is 3.55 you have to keep it with in a very close diffrence... just some suggestions goodluck

 

[S_bolt19]

Like said before, check your driveshaft U-joints, but also check to see if that CV joint at the x-fer case is shot. From there, check both upper & lower ball joints, axle U-joints, and inner & outter bearings. It might be something as simple as the lock washer in the hub spun and you have to get a new one. I would take those front hubs apart completely to see. I know last year, the outter nut on the driver side hub on mine spun off and then back on and it trashed the spindle, lock washer, both nuts, bearings and the hub lock cap. It could be that too because mine did similar growling when that happened and it is a pain in the ass to deal with. I had to cut the hub off so I could get to the nut because it was cross threaded so bad. It completely ruined the spindle...but that is a worst case scenario with a hub problem. Just check all your U-joints, and also make sure that the radius arms are tight, just for good measure.

 

[76Explorer]

To narrow the problem down, drive it in 4 hi with hubs unlocked, then in 2 hi with them locked, this way you will know if it's driveshaft or axle related. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[walkercreekbronco]

Thanks for the ideas, I'll dig deeper Saturday.

By rotating the front driveshaft by hand, it seems the u-joints are O.K., the play seems to be up by the hubs.

 

[Justbust1n]

Thanks for the ideas, I'll dig deeper Saturday.By rotating the front driveshaft by hand, it seems the u-joints are O.K., the play seems to be up by the hubs.

wheel bearings go ahead and do them both .... inner and outter... and while your at it go ahead and repack the other side there is never enough grease when you pack them... goodluck