Grinding When Wheels Turned to Either Side

[Midnite]

I'm getting a progressively worsening grinding noise/feeling (more a feeling through the steering wheel than a noise though) when I turn the steering wheel to the extreme left or right.



I had a local 4x4 shop check out the front u-joints, but they said they looked good. However, they did say that the front driveshaft was in bad shape. The slip-yoke does feel a little loose, but would that account for the grinding?



If anyone has any other ideas about what it might be, I'd really appreciate it.



Thanks,

Mike

 

[Dfeland]

STOP driving it and check your front wheel bearings. Since your front driveshaft turns very slowly or not at all going down the road then its probably not your front driveshaft or differential. I would bet wheel bearings. Check'em quick because if it ruins the spindle on the dana 60 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

 

[Midnite]

Oh man, I hope it's not bearings! If it was bearings, wouldn't it grind or make some kind of noise even going straight?



Thanks,

Mike

 

[KEENO]

Hey Midnight!



The grinding noise is present at full lock turns due to turn placing more of a laterial load on the bearings than when going straight. If there's any 'lash'/loosness in the bearings it's magnified @ full turn.



Just my opinion.....



KEENO



PS: Just got home from your neck of the woods last week!

 

[Midnite]

I still can't seem to find the problem on this, so I thought I'd bump it back up...



I took the truck to a good local 4x4 shop, and they said the bearings looked good, but that there was a flat spot on the drivers' side spindle--almost like I may have hit a really big pothole at some point. This may very well be the case, since I'd just got back from a trip down to the states via the Alcan.



Anyway, they replaced the spindle, repacked the bearings, and it's still grinding/vibrating. I'm going to take it back to them to have them replace the front driveshaft, so I'll talk to them about the grinding again.



However, I was wondering if anyone here had any other ideas what it might be?



Thanks,

Mike



PS: Keeno--too bad I didn't get the chance to meet you in person when you were up here!

 

[Philip]

If you still have the problem. After a repack and spindle. I am like KEENO. I think you have a bad set of bearings. The outside of the bearing might look good. But what does the inner race of the bearing look like. This is one part you can't look at properly without cutting the cage off the bearing. A flat spot on the spindle would give an indication of a massive impact. The bearing had to transfer the force to flatten the spindle. If one got damaged. It would stand to reason the other one would to.



The only way it could be the front drive shaft is if you have your hubs locked in or one is stuck on without you knowing it.



Are you tires hitting the frame on a full turn?

 

[JTMcCracken]

Philip, my front drive shaft turns just about all the time, from parrasitic drag due to the heavy gear oil in it, I assume. Not full speed but it does slowly turn. Twice I've had a cup spit out on the front drive shaft U-joint and it results in a distinct noise as the joint flops around in the U-bolt, it continues until the truck is at a complete stop, 2 high, hubs unlocked( and the hubs are working properly). JTMcC.

 

[Philip]

JTMcC.

I have heard the spit out cap sound before. LOL



If your hubs are unlocked then why is the shaft turning? The transfer case uses a shift lever to release the power for the shaft. The hubs are a direct connection device. If they unlock properly. Then the front shaft sould not turn. Except in the case of chassis flex from turning then this would very little.



My W350 does not turn the shaft when everything is disengaged. I have watched it when ever the wife drives off in it.

:{



I use 80/90 gear lube in my 205 and the front axle. I am going synethic when I rebuild the front axle. Then when I get around to resealing the 205 it will get switched over to.



I am just wondering where the drag would come from in the transfer case to cause your shaft to turn while driving.

 

[JTMcCracken]

Philip, I'm assuming it's just gear lube trying to turn a gear thats not engaged, its a very slow turning of the shaft on my truck, no where near full speed. I have seen it in motorcycles running, rear wheel off the ground, out of gear, and the rear wheel will slowly strart to turn, easy to stop with your hand. If you have a gearbox sitting on the shop floor, you can sometimes turn the input shaft by hand, again in neutral, and the output shaft will turn a little. JTMcC.

 

[mblair]

grinding ideas..

I would recommend double checking the outer u joints at the wheels. I guess after what difference mine made I suspect them a lot. The factory ones ones serviceable and go out a lot. This affected the steering.

They shouldn't be turning at all, like everyone suggests. You could

reach under and see if the front drive shaft turns freely. It may feel stiff, but you should see the axle joints turning if hubs are free. Make sure both hubs are free. If one is still in, it could cause problems. I have a bad axle on another truck and the hub was locked. I suspect I may have absentlyminded left it or someone playing around. Any way, be sure axles are free and joints are food.

If bearings are bad, you may be able to raise wheel of ground and turn and pull wheels to see if there is play in bearings or anywhere that causes looseness.

Good luck. There's a lot of very knowledgeable people out there on this site.

Max

 

[Philip]

I know about the drag your talking about JTMc.



. I just have never seen enough drag in a 205 gear case to turn the front drive shaft assy with the case in rear drive. Your front axle must turn a lot easier than mine does. Mine takes a good 6 to 10ft/lbs of torque to turn my front shaft.

 

[Midnite]

Just thought I'd post a follow up on this since I've finally figured it out. It turns out it was the limited slip, and the rear end was just low on additive.



I could have sworn I felt the grinding through the steering wheel, and it sounded like it was more from the front than the rear. We ended up going through everything, from simple stuff like retorquing the lug nuts to examining the bearings and spindles.



Oh well... I'm just happy it didn't cost me an arm and a leg to find out what it really was.



Thanks very much for all the great suggestions,

Mike

 

[Philip]

Glad to hear you found the problem.

Don't you just hate the way sound and vibration travels thru a vehicle. The problem in one area can sound like it is in another.

 

[rwinslow]

My $. 02 worth . . . . . Check your front axle U-joints. I just replaced mine. They looked good by visual inspection and they even "felt good" while rotating each axle by hand (2 High - Hubs in Free). Upon disassembly of the front hub / wheel assembly for annual bearing greasing / inspection, pulled the front axle assemblies out of the axle housing and noted that the axle u-joints were froze - up. Freedom of movement was no more than 1/2" in one plane of movement. I had to have the OEM axle u-joints removed by a drive line shop - they are big and would not budge with my equipment.



The new axle u-joints are greasable. The truck now tracks and steers like it is brand new. It is also requiring less throttle and a drop of 50 EGT. Note that a very good front end shop checked front end alignment and thrust alignment and found both to be in very good condition. Tire wear on the front end was also excessive before the u-joints were changed.



I suspect that these axle u-joints account for a lot of the steering problems and tire wear issues on these trucks.