Roaring noise in 4wd?

[ctliberty]

I have a NP231 transfer case. Last winter during the Blizzard I heard a roaring noise when in 4wd high on snow covered roads at 25-30 mph when I am on the gas. When off the gas no noise. At a rolling speed (5 mph) I would hear a ticking noise when going straight only when in 4wd. In 2wd there is no noise. I checked all the joints boots and there is no rips or leakage. I also brought it to a garage and they checked it and said it sounded like it was coming from the transfer case. Any ideas what it could be?

 

[CzarKJ]

Are you sure its not the front CV?

 

[ctliberty]

I will check again. Could it be the joints at the front drive shaft since it isn't making the noise in 2wd?

 

[CzarKJ]

That's what I was thinking. Its probably the CV coming out of the transfer case (which many of us had a problem with and have/are going to replace). Unless you have a serious t-case issue :freak3:

 

[ctliberty]

While in 2wd is the driveshaft supposed to have any play? Besides checking the boot how else can I check it?

 

[tommudd]

Check the rear boot on the front driveshaft
Also front driveshaft turns all of the time anyways
How many miles are on it ?
May help to determine what it is as well

 

[ctliberty]

It has 147k on it. I will check the rear boot on it again in the morning when its hopefully dry out. With jeep off the driveshaft turns a little bit

 

[tommudd]

Could be the right side CV and Intermediate shaft as well
They wear out as well, splined together and the splines rust, get dry and wear

 

[TheBlueKJ]

I know exactly what that is since I'm having the exact same issue. Check your cv boot on your front dshaft coming out of the tcase. I will bet money that that's where your problem is. I ordered up my replacement cv head from driveshaftparts.com and should be here monday or tuesday :waytogo:

 

[ctliberty]

OK. Thanks for the help everyone! I will check it out tomorrow.

 

[dude1116]

http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/f196/metal-noise-kj-53963/#post602198

Look there. That will tell you what to look for. Had the same issue myself. At first I was unsure of what I looked at, so I missed it completely. Once I had a little bit more guidance from a friend, I saw the damage. Post a picture of that CV so we can help you diagnose!

 

[ctliberty]

I will post a pic in the morning.

 

[ctliberty]

Here are some pics.

 

[CzarKJ]

From that angle we cant see much. Please take one looking into the boot from the driveshaft side. Thanks!

 

[Leeann]

Yeah, it's the boot inside the bulbous end that we need to see.

 

[dude1116]

Yes. Different angle picture helps (looking INTO the joint). BUT from what I can see in picture two, it looks like the part of the boot that's zipped closed to the end of the driveshaft is sheared off of the rest of the boot (there is no continuation of boot from what is shown there). That's what it looks like to me!

See my attachment:

 

[ctliberty]

After looking at it again this morning the boot is ripped away from where its zipped to the driveshaft. From driving in 4wd last winter could I have caused harm to the transfer case with the bad joint? Also would there be issues driving until I fixed it if I stayed in 2wd?

 

[TwoBobsKJ]

After looking at it again this morning the boot is ripped away from where its zipped to the driveshaft. From driving in 4wd last winter could I have caused harm to the transfer case with the bad joint? Also would there be issues driving until I fixed it if I stayed in 2wd?

The boot only protects the CV joint - there is no opening into the transfer case past the boot. When you take the driveshaft out you'll see that the transfer case yoke is essentially a cup into which the CV joint sits. So no harm to the transfer case.

You won't hurt anything by driving in 2WD - the joint is already toast and that's as much damage as you can do to it. It may get noisier but that's about it. If you want you can remove the driveshaft now and just drive in 2WD until you get a new CV joint; just be SURE you don't accidentally put it in 4WD or you can definitely create a "problem" for yourself :jawdrop:

Bob

 

[ctliberty]

Thank you for the help!

 

[CzarKJ]

I will be doing mine Friday or Saturday. I will be sure to take lots of pictures!