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4 Wheel Drive/SUVs/clicking noise up front at takeoff

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Expert: Carl Brandt - 9/14/2004


Question
My 99 Jimmy 2dr 4wd has a clicking noise at takeoff, and i am not sure what the problem is.  I did have the transmission serviced, along with a new front wheel bearing replaced.  that didn't seem to fix the noise though, and the guy who service my tranny said that he didn't know what it was.  he said that my axles looked good, along with the boots.  I am afraid that i am about to lose my front end.  the sound goes away, after taking off.  What do you suppose the problem is?

Answer
Chris,

Hard to say, without listening to the sound.  I would have someone walk alongside of the rig as you take off, and see if they can pinpoint where the ticking is coming from.  This can be as simple as something in the brake assembly, a bad hub, or a faulty u-joint in the drive line.  See if you can find a reputable shop that specializes in four wheel drive vehicles if you can't locate the source of the noise yourself.  Many times, what you seem to be hearing inside of the vehicle, can be transmitting, or echoing down a drive line, or other component, and will seem to be coming from a location other than the actual source.

Carl

4 Wheel Drive/SUVs

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Carl Brandt

Expertise

Will discuss suspensions, lifts, lockers along with tire suggestions. Trail ratings and possible requirements needed for specific type of trails. Safety equipment and what you should carry with you. Certified off-road instructor. I am not a mechanic, and 4-Wheeling is a hobby, so if I can't answer a technical question it is due to my mechanical knowledge being related to vehicles that I have owned, or have worked on. I do not have manuals on all vehicles.

Experience

40 plus years of 4 wheeling in a variety of vehicles. At the present time, my major off-road rig is a 94 Jeep Wrangler with a spring over and a 1 1/2" suspension lift. This gives me a total lift of 7" or so. I have lockers front and rear. I have removed the track bars, and sway bar for maximum articulation. I am running a stock 2.5 ltr 4 cylinder with a Jacobs ignition along with a cold air high flow filter. It has 4.56:1 gears with a Dodge NV4500 transmission along with a 3.8:1 Atlas II transfer case. This gives me a final ratio of 105:1 in low gear/low range. Other vehicles I own, are a 96 Ford F-250 with a 6" lift, posi rear end, 36" Hummer tires, 5 speed with a fuel injected 460 ci engine, an 87 Samurai with an 8" lift, Ford 9" rear end with a spool, Chevy Dana 44 front end with an electric locker, 5.88 gears, 16% reduction in high range and a 6.5:1 low range with 35" Baja Claws, and a stock 2003 Grand Cherokee Overland. Trails I have run are the Rubicon (10 times), Dusey Ershim, Fordyce Creek trail, McGrew trail, several trails in Moab, Utah along with local monthly runs.

Organizations
Lost Coast 4x4's Cal 4-Wheel Corva UFWDA Blue Ribbon Coalition

Education/Credentials
Certified off-road instructor - Certificates in engineering/electronics

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