Trying to diagnose sound.

[Slagree92]

For months now iv had an odd sound get progressively worse. It started as almost a whistle that you'd only hear while driving under bridges or near barrier walls, but has now progressed to a full blown metallic jingle/occasional clunk/ratcheting sound that seems to be relative to wheel speed. It clunks and ratchets at lower speeds 0-10mph occasionally. It ALWAYS makes the jingling sound almost like a small chain bouncing off the road beneath the jeep that gains pitch as you gain speed.

Iv gotten under the jeep this morning and turned the driveshafts by hand and they do have back and forth play. The front driveshaft is very audible when you try to spin it making a fairly loud click with a light clunk. Is this normal for jeeps? I'm starting to think I might have a bad U joint. Any ideas or suggestions as to what to check? Iv recently put all new brakes and rotors on. Checked differential fluids, CVs are in OK condition, no drippy wheel bearings and no transmission leaks.

 

[tommudd]

Check the rear CV, rubber boot goes bad about 70-75,000 miles, then dirt etc gets in the CV and eats them up
Cheap fix 35-40 bucks, takes longer to R&R the driveshaft than to replace the part

www.driveshaftparts.com

Also check rear driveshaft u-joints, they will feel tight but will be rusted solid almost , that will make a squeak, squeak, squeak sound at slow speeds sometimes

 

[HoosierJeeper]

It's that CV, I had the exact same noises.