Jeep Garage  - Jeep Forum banner

What Is This Noise?

8K views 37 replies 11 participants last post by  lll2for3lll 
#1 · (Edited)
I recorded this video just minutes ago.

After you hear the brakes release, you will hear 3 ticks. A friend of mine listened and it's definitely coming from the rear.

What is it?




Added another video........Ticks only come when foot applied to accelerator.

 
#2 ·
Hard to tell over video (and I am by no means an expert!), but to me it sounds like it could be a number of things:

My first guess would be brake related, although since the video is shot from the centre of the vehicle, I am guessing you have already ruled this out.

Could be worn out u-joints, but I would imagine you would have some driveability issues if they were that bad (such as vehicle shudder at certain speeds).

Could also be the pinion bearing, but again, if it was bad enough to make a low speed clicking like that, it would certainly howl on the highway.

Is it definitely from the back? As I'm sure you know sound can be hard to isolate to a specific location. Axle/transmission mounts would be a good candidate for that sort of noise as well, I would think.
 
#3 ·
sounds like the rear brakes to me. most likely the one of the calipers. have you ever changed pads on your wk?
 
  • Like
Reactions: lll2for3lll
#6 · (Edited)
No. I'm saving for Stillens. I'm tired of warping rotors.

Edit: Yes. I have changed both rear pads once but I've never change rotors. The brake noise and the ticks are not related. Thanks for you replies people.

The Thanks button isn't used enough IMO. Check out my count. Lol.
 
#5 ·
Not the brake sound but I'm trying to figure out what the 3 ticks are.

And yes Dr. Lee, I do have howling that's starts at around 45 mph. The howling goes "whooom whooom whooom" when I foot is holding the accelerator steady and when it is released, it get a constant "whooooooooom" until I drop below a certain mph.

It's not effecting drivability at all what so ever. Took a trip to Atlanta with it like this and the problem had not effected anything. It's not getting worse but it's not getting better.

The only noticeable problem is the sound. That's it.
 
#7 ·
after watching the video another dozen times, i think it's the noise when you are switching between park-reverse-neutral-drive. i can hear the gears being switched and the sound is right after.
 
#8 ·
I do have shifting clunks only when shifting on an incline or decline but these ticks are different.

I can put my foot on the brake, shift to drive or reverse, let go of the brake and let the WK roll on it's own and not have the ticks.......but...........as soon as I hit the accelerator, I get the few ticks and then they are gone.

It's as if it only does it when a certain amour of torque is applied to the drive shaft.
 
#9 ·
Added another video........Ticks only come when foot applied to accelerator.

And the first sound is the brakes right, I'm not concerned with them because I'm going to replace them when I get the cash.

 
#10 ·
Could be U-joints or something else causing slack in the drivetrain. I know you commented on sounds at higher speeds, any vibrations to match? With the vehicle in park you can try to move the driveshaft by hand, see if there is any play.

When was the last time the gear oil was changed in the rear end?
 
#11 ·
No vibrations at all. Had it at 100 mph on I-20. No vibrations. Just the ticks and the slight howling that starts at around 45 mph.

I really think it's driveline related. The rear end oil was changed a few months ago and THAT'S when this all started.
 
#12 ·
Just crawled from underneath. No play in the driveline AT ALL.
 
#13 ·
Sounds like your E-brake shoes. They're notorious for coming unglued and making noise.
 
#14 ·
That would cause the howling and ticks or that scratching noise?

I'm more concerned about the ticks and howling.
 
#15 ·
When mine came unstuck, it made the worst sound I've ever heard!!! Lol
 
#16 ·
Have you considered the howling to be from your tires lol...

You likely have a worn out bearing in one of your differentials, that is the most common howl on any jeep vehicle.

Can you duplicate the ticks by bouncing the car or rocking it side to side while stationary, to me doing it when accelerating is simply when the suspension is loading up from the mass shifting its weight.
 
  • Like
Reactions: lll2for3lll
#17 ·
Andrew. The man.

I can not duplicate the ticks. It only does it when accelerating after releasing the brakes.

I'm almost starting to think the howling and the ticks are 2 different issues.
 
#20 ·
Why would my differential howl after being serviced???
 
#21 ·
did they replace the rear pinion seal? I ask because you mentioned they removed the driveshaft... if they did they VERY easily could have overtightened the pinion nut (or left it too loose for that matter) causing bearing failure.
 
  • Like
Reactions: lll2for3lll
#22 ·
I'll mention it to them.

How can I mention to them that the mechanic could have caused the issue?

It LITERALY started after having them service the differentials. It really does sound like the rear.

I also had to take the rear back because they didn't seal it well and had fluid coming out of the bottom. And after taking it back the second time, it's starting to leak at the bottom again and starting to leak at the seal.

These leaks are very very minor though.
 
#23 ·
You may also want to check the rear diff fluid level....pull the rubber plug and stick your finger in the stinky hole....lol....the fluid level should be up to the hole. Good luck!
 
#24 ·
The fact its leaking from the pinion seal again would lead me to believe you have a worn out pinon bearing. The ticking very well could be the ebrake shoes, ultimately with how you can duplicate it and make the same tick tick tick over and over its really hard to pinpoint, The ebrake shoes are a great place to look, the fact the pinion seal is leaking again also makes me nervous, it rides on the yoke so its not an easy seal to damage during install, unless your yoke is worn out on the sealing surface thats a big red flag for me, also the diff that CONTINUES to leak from the cover, it is also not rocket science to seal a diff cover.

Ultimately it may take you sitting down with the manager for them to work with you on the noise. I want to say take it to another shop and get their opinion but if it were something like incorrectly torquing the pinion nut they couldnt really tell you for sure that it was because of a repair and may not want to be involved in a spitting match. Call and try to schedule a time to talk with the manager, and absolutely demand that it happend after picking up following the repair, when he says they did everything right remind him that they have not even properly sealed the rear diff cover 2 times now and your supposed to believe he torqued a vital nut properly???
 
  • Like
Reactions: lll2for3lll
#25 ·
Ok so everything is leading to the issue being bad u-joints.

I found a used driveshaft for $96 on eBay located 56 minutes away from my house back in North Myrtle Beach.

Should I buy the used driveshaft and have a shop modify it so that I can replace the joints in the future and install new ones?
 
#27 ·
I took it to the dealer a while ago and the mechanic took the driveshaft off and said that the u-joints "seemed" bad. He said this because they didn't move freely and smoothly with his hand. He even showed me.

The dealer I go to is a nice place. They did not charge me anything to try and find what the problem is.

I'm wonder if the driveshaft is where I should start?
 
#28 ·
Just my $0.02.
By watching the second video it seems to come when there is weight transfer,
(reverse = front to back , Drive = back to front).
So i was thinking could it be springs or a loose shock?
Maybe there's a loose axle pin or shim in the front or rear gear housing.
 
#29 ·
The noise is definately coming from where the drive shaft meets the rear axle.
 
#31 ·
I'm not really sure. Never thought about that.

I know for sure that next on my list are:

Sway links
JBA UCA's
Bigger sway bars

Maybe the noise will be gone by then. Not really sure.

Also, I'm pretty sure I mentioned this already but keep in mind that I do have a slight humming noise at about 40mph. That started the same time as the ticking noise.
 
#33 ·
#35 ·
Man I had the fluid changed less than 2 years ago.

Should I use any oil other than what the dealer use?

As for the ticking noise, I'm going to upgrade all links and trac bar and other suspension parts and go from there but I'm sure the driveline is involved.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top