Author Topic: No good vibrations! (Read 2387 times)

Rubicon Josh · « **on:** August 06, 2006, 04:11:40 PM »

Hey guys,

The last few months I have had a rattly squeeling sound coming from the front end of my '03 rubicon. Now over the last couple of weeks the sounds seem to be getting worse. On the way home from Red Deer today i noticed that i started to get a bit of vibration. When I got back to the city i really tried to pay attention to the sound and the vibration. The sound only happens when i'm moving. It sounds like it is coming more from the drivers side, but that could just be because thats where i like to sit when i'm driving. lol. When i am traveling slowly it sounds like a spoon in a metle mixing bowl. kind of a rattle and scrape sound. When i speed up it turns into a squeeling sound. it is quite a bit louder now that there is a vibration. Under acceleration the sound disapears or quietens down a bit until i stop accelerating and just cruise. The vibration is constant while i drive. It increases with speed to the point that i can no longer see in my rear view mirrors. By 60 km/hr the vibration is pretty bad. I took a good look at my tires and don't see anything that causes concern. I can feel the vibration through the floor and peddles and through the shift nob. There is no vibration in the steering wheel. I climbed under the jeep and checked for play in the drive shafts. In the rear there is absolutely no play whatsoever. In the front I can rotate the shaft a bit, but there doesn't seem to be any actual play in the u-joints.
I am at a loss as to what the problem is. Short of abusing my jeep until something breaks in order to diagnose it and fix it, i don't know where to start. Is it driveshaft? U-joints? Wheel bearings? axles? Brakes? Transmission? If any one has had this problem or just knows what it is because they are a better mechanic than me, please help!

Josh

SPOT · « **Reply #1 on:** August 06, 2006, 04:17:26 PM »

its your front drive shaft.pull it out go for drive the vibration will be gone.either get your old drive shaft rebuilt or get a new one.

apex · « **Reply #2 on:** August 06, 2006, 04:41:43 PM »

2nd vote for front DS. You should be able to warranty it considering you have an '03. I'm on my second with less than 50k kms on it.

Vinman · « **Reply #3 on:** August 06, 2006, 05:39:57 PM »

If it is the CV in the front driveshaft (which it sounds like it is) remove the shaft asap, if driven long enough with it in, the CV can seize and when that happens, the transfer case literally explodes by taking the entire front output side off.
It wouldn't be a very good experience.

Vince

Rubicon Josh · « **Reply #4 on:** August 06, 2006, 06:54:14 PM »

thanks so far guys. I'll remove it tonight and go for a drive. think it as caused any further damage yet? oh and my shitty luck i just went over 100,000 km last week. so much for warranty.

josh

Dragonmaster · « **Reply #5 on:** August 06, 2006, 07:03:23 PM »

Isn't the warranty to 120,000?

Vinman · « **Reply #6 on:** August 06, 2006, 08:36:01 PM »

Quote from: "Dragonmaster"

Isn't the warranty to 120,000?

Correct, 7 year 120,000km powertrain warranty on the 2003's.
There will probably be a $100.00 deductable.

Rubicon Josh · « **Reply #7 on:** August 06, 2006, 08:44:47 PM »

i was told that it only went to 100,000km

Vinman · « **Reply #8 on:** August 06, 2006, 10:14:50 PM »

Quote from: "Rubicon Josh"

i was told that it only went to 100,000km

My 2003 Rubicon has coverage to 120,000km for the powertrain.

I had purchased the extended warranty which increased the bumper to bumper coverage from 60,000km to 100,000km but the base powertrain still went to 120k

When I had it in at 105,000km the dealer even pointed out there is now a $100.00 deductable because my bumper to bumper expired at 100k.

As far as I konw, all 2003 Jeeps had a base powertrain warranty to 120,000km.

Vince

Rubicon Josh · « **Reply #9 on:** August 07, 2006, 11:31:09 AM »

thanks guys. I went through my paper work for the jeep and found that I am covered to 115,000 km. Now I have to make the choice of taking the front drive shaft off and taking it in tomorrow, or leaving it on and taking it in tomorrow. Any suggestions? Will it void the warranty if i remove it? it looks like the damage is in the rear u-joint of the front drive shaft. i found a ring of metal sitting on the top of my skid plate that looks like it originated in the middle connection between the drive shaft and the transfer case yoke. Does anyone think that one more day of driving it will be detrimental to the transfer case?

Josh

Dragonmaster · « **Reply #10 on:** August 07, 2006, 01:09:59 PM »

Quote from: "Rubicon Josh"

thanks guys. I went through my paper work for the jeep and found that I am covered to 115,000 km. Now I have to make the choice of taking the front drive shaft off and taking it in tomorrow, or leaving it on and taking it in tomorrow. Any suggestions? Will it void the warranty if i remove it? it looks like the damage is in the rear u-joint of the front drive shaft. i found a ring of metal sitting on the top of my skid plate that looks like it originated in the middle connection between the drive shaft and the transfer case yoke. Does anyone think that one more day of driving it will be detrimental to the transfer case?

Josh

You never know, I'd take it out either way.

Vinman · « **Reply #11 on:** August 07, 2006, 03:19:15 PM »

Quote from: "Rubicon Josh"

thanks guys. I went through my paper work for the jeep and found that I am covered to 115,000 km. Now I have to make the choice of taking the front drive shaft off and taking it in tomorrow, or leaving it on and taking it in tomorrow. Any suggestions? Will it void the warranty if i remove it? it looks like the damage is in the rear u-joint of the front drive shaft. i found a ring of metal sitting on the top of my skid plate that looks like it originated in the middle connection between the drive shaft and the transfer case yoke. Does anyone think that one more day of driving it will be detrimental to the transfer case?

Josh

I would remove it and make a point of telling the service manager that after finding the filings, you had concerns about it causing further damage if left in.
Which dealer are you taking it to?

Now I have to dig up my warranty paperwork, I was certain I was covered until 120k

Vince

Rubicon Josh · « **Reply #12 on:** August 07, 2006, 05:29:59 PM »

Thanks vince. I found the waranty info in the book in the glove box. 115000 km or 7 years. I did remove the drive shaft, and I don't think that Tower will hastle me too badly. If they do, then I'll put it back on and take it some where else.

Josh