Thread: D4 CV Joint Failure ????

Originally Posted by BMKal

Have just watched a couple of American videos on replacing the bearing / hub assembly. The first one didn't show the reason why he was replacing it, but the second one by "Atlantic British" showed the movement in the bearing both with the wheel still on the vehicle, and with the wheel and rotor removed.

The procedure for replacing the hub / bearing assembly looks pretty straight forward, with potentially the most difficult part being belting the old hub off. I've got an air chisel and an FBH though, so shouldn't be a problem.

Hopefully I'll get to at least move the vehicle into the shed tomorrow and get the wheels up off the ground so that I can see if there is any movement there. I'm beginning to think that this is probably the most likely cause of the noises etc that I noticed today. The amount of water I've been driving through over the last couple of days would certainly help bring on a wheel bearing failure if there was one on its way out.

If it is a wheel bearing, I'm thinking that I'll probably replace both sides, whether needed or not.

There is a big price range in the hubs, I think it's the British atlantic that is basically a how to and it's pretty well as he does it. You just need a big torque wrench for the hub but, from memory it's a 32mm socket which is easiest loosened whilst the wheels are still on the ground.
I used a 1 inch drive torque wrench but 3/4 would do the job.

Cheers Ean

Hi

Just a left-field idea (from some personal experience!)...

As someone else mentioned, one possible explanation could be that it is 'stuck in 4WD' - particularly given you have a 'grabbing' sensation as well as the knocking.
Get someone to walk alongside the car when you are turning - if it is the centre diff, they should be able to see the wheels actually rotating (I know, they are supposed to rotate, but you know what I mean!) and it'll be in time with the knocking. It'll be the same on front & rears.

After crossing Nolan's Brook on the Old Telegraph Track in Cape York (lots of water!), I had a similar 'knocking/shuddering' from the drivetrain.
Originally, I thought it was the front wheels, and thought it could have been a CV joint. It only made the noise once steering was past 'halfway' (to one side or the other). I did a post on here somewhere at that time.

Long story short - some water got in 'somewhere' that affected the centre diff. It locked up, and caused the knocking/grabbing whilst turning hard (due to releasing the windup).

Solutions
1. I had my transfer case replaced (it was under extended warranty) - but that should be a second option.
2. Another member had a very similar issue (at the some location!) about a month after me - he had his transfer case drained, flushed etc, and the error codes etc reset (I think), and it was good as new. AndrewM can correct all my errors in here...

Anyway, it's probably something easy, simple, and nothing related to your centre diff/transfer case - I hope so!

Thanks.

Rob

Well - pretty sure it's not a wheel bearing.

Have just managed to get front wheels jacked up (one at a time for the moment) and checked for any "movement" - none evident in either wheel.

Now we are getting storms again and I can't be bothered doing any more outside for the moment, so further investigation will come in the next couple of days when it cools down and the humidity level is back to something bearable.

One question though - should I be able to rotate the wheels when they are jacked off the ground (one at a time). I would have thought so, as the front diff at least is not locked - but I could not rotate either wheel when I was out there a while ago.

Yesterday I moved the car into the shed after I had finished clearing it all out. While doing so, I had a bit of a play around with the 4WD settings while having the display screen showing the vehicle configuration. Everything appeared normal - centre diff showed as "locked" when I put it in low range, rock crawl mode as I would have expected, and then went back to "unlocked" (green) when I switched everything back to normal. I have had no "error" messages come up on the dash to suggest anything wrong electronically etc.

One other thing that I did notice yesterday and again today was that there is sometimes a loud "clunk" like something engaging or dis-engaging shortly after shutting off the engine. Seems to be coming from under the front half of the car somewhere (sounds like forward of firewall) - definitely not EPB sound (that is working quite normally). Car still drives forward or reverse in a straight line without any problems / noises etc, but even moving very slowly in the back yard in either forward or reverse with the steering turned more than about half way to full lock, the grabbing / banging is quite severe.

Hopefully will be able to investigate further over next couple of days. Will set up the Gap IID tool today and plug that in tomorrow to check for any error codes .......................... and hope it's not up for a trip to Perth on the back of a truck. Don't know that there's anyone in Kalgoorlie I'd let touch it if the problem is not something that I can fix myself.

Sounding very much like the centre diff is locked.

Originally Posted by BMKal

Think I know who's the only one doing any "stroking" around here.

Sounds like you've been on another shopping trip to Narrogin.

They seek him here,they seek him there.
He was recently spotted at a pub in Vic Park.Photo from Farcebook.

Andrew

Originally Posted by Graeme

Sounding very much like the centre diff is locked.

That's what I've been afraid of Graeme. Not sure what my next course of action should be from here if this is the case - probably a trip on a tilt tray to a decent LR specialist down in Perth (won't be going to a dealers).

Originally Posted by LandyAndy

They seek him here,they seek him there.
He was recently spotted at a pub in Vic Park.Photo from Farcebook.

Andrew

At a guess, I'd say that photo was taken when you blokes were on your way home after your recent fishing trip .................................

Nah Mate.
Mr GOE's wife posted them.
Andrew