Roadblock007

I was thinking on doing the axle and actuator. I'm thinking that it's either the axle itself or, now since you've mentioned it, the actuator gears. I would think that it is less likely that the wheel bearing gears would strip, being metal.

Arizona Tumbleweed

They are both metal.

Roadblock007

Good to know, thanks. At the very least I will follow my plan and inspect the bearing gear. If it looks bad I will replace it. The truck is my second vehicle for towing my boat and hauling building materials so I can afford to lay it up for a couple of weeks this time of year.

Arizona Tumbleweed

Here's the video. Has some good tips.

Roadblock007

If the actuator links up to the teeth on the bearing assembly, why are there teeth on the CV axle? Or does it connect both together?

techrep

iTrader: (1)

Roadblock007

Thanks, this style 4x4 is new to me. The only front axles I've changed have had the gears on the shaft and they pass through the centre of the bearing.

Roadblock007

I went to a dry parking lot just out of curiosity and went a full 360 left and right with the wheel hard over both ways and not a sound. So I'm thinking not the axle but maybe the actuator... But why would it still do it in 4x4?

Roadblock007

I'll leave this info for the night. I have been working on cars for a long time and overhauled a few engines and transmissions and replaced axles and driveshafts and seals and ....

Anyway, I'm not inexperienced. Just have never heard this before. The best way to describe the sound is to say that it is the same sound you get when you crack a tight wheel nut with a breaker bar. That crack sound. It happens for a second or 2 and then stops and I can feel it in the steering wheel.

To recap :

- makes the sound when coasting, accelerating, decelerating. As long as the tires are rotating it will happen.
- does it cold or warm
- could take 2 minutes or 1/2 hour to happen, but once it starts it becomes frequent
- only lasts a second but can repeat several times in a row or stop altogether
- happens in 2wd and in 4wd
- I have tested the vacuum actuators at the wheels, check valve, and the solenoid at the firewall and all is working as it should
- I have turned a full 360 degrees both left and right with the wheel cranked to the limit and not a sound from either CV

On a side note and probably unrelated, when I turn a corner the steering wheel doesn't seem to return towards centre at all on it's own. I have to turn it myself. I've never driven anything that after you turn a corner if you let go of the wheel it will not try to come back by itself... Don't know if that info helps or not but there it is.

dukedkt442

For your last part, the u joint on the steering shaft is frozen and needs to be replaced. *Maybe* also going towards your noise, as it is a definite safety issue. The wheel should center. If that doesn't fix it, I'd be looking at CV joings and sway bar bushings/links. I'm chasing a crack/popping sound on my X3 right now, and after replacing the thrust arm bushings, retorquing the sub frame bolts, I noticed a tear in a CV boot, so I've got a new axle ready to go today. It doesn't make a sound during typical failed-CV situations, but as it's the only actually worn part, if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck... Sway bar links and warn bar-frame bushings also lend themselves to the occasional snap/crackle/pop.