Back in November, I had a highly respected (so I was told) local shop install my 5.13 gears for me, overhaul kit and all. I did all the break in things properly, etc. Recently had to take it back in after realizing one of the real axle seals were leaking (wonder if they used the kit I gave them or not).

So... lately, I've been noticing this vibration -- it started about 3-4 weeks ago, and I've been trying to figure out where it's been coming from. The first time I noticed it was at slow speeds one day out of the blue, and I felt a slight vibration where it felt like it was slowing the Jeep down -- almost like something was stuck in the brakes. I've had a driveshaft go bad before, so I was pretty confident it wasn't that -- plus it was too slow of speeds -- but after getting up to highway speeds, it became an on and off again vibration, but persistent.

Anyhow, last night I decided to jack the Jeep up front, and then rear, and had my wife spin one of the tires as I pinpointed the noise. It sounds like a clunk per se, but not something necessarily broken inside the pumpkin. It happens regardless of which tire is spinning, and still does it when I hold the driveshaft to prevent it from spinning. I checked the rear, holding the driveshaft still, and it has the same noise and clunking sounds. I did not have any of the lockers engaged when I tried this.

Also, when I was checking all this, it was right after getting home -- and the rear pumpkin was HOT, and the front was Very warm.

Is this normal??

2nd item -- I've always been in the habit of kicking my tires every now and then, and did this when the gears were stock -- no noises. A few weeks after the gears were installed, all 4 tires clunk if I kick it good. I took one of the tires off one day to check it, and noticed there's a slight play in and out, just enough for it to feel it. Is this normal too?

Thanks!

 

Check your brakes. I had gears installed and the shop didn't snug up the caliper bolts on 3 tires and COMPLETELY LEFT THE BOLTS OUT of the front drivers side caliper. Drove home 80 miles. Once home a couple days later, noticed noise at slow speeds...grinding. Jumped out and crawled under to find that I narrowly escaped a major accident...if the caliper had shifted a couple inches while sitting there loose...could have caught in the wheel and locked up the front end.

 

I'll double check those just in case... thanks.

The clunking however is coming from within the pumpkin.

 

Something like that is worth pulling the diff covers and inspecting the wear patterns on the ring and pinion teeth. With so few miles there shouldn't be much, if any, wear appearing. I'd probably get a dial indicator ready too when you drop the covers to check tolerances.

 

Does the clunk happen when you start to spin it it , when you stop the wheel , that is normal. If it's clunking as your spinning, that is not. Also, your rear diff and axle can get to 160 degrees which is normal , remember, it's under load, your front is not, so it'll be just warm. All in all, pull the cover off just to make sure.
Slight play in and out is on the axle is normal too. I would definatly check your brakes first , if your pads are wore unevenly there may be a rotor or axle flange prob ,and also pull the rear wheels while on jack stands, run it in drive and see if your rotors may be warped , or maybe an axle flange bent. That's about all I got. Other that one tire may have alot less pressure than the other.