If my Jeep's in 2WD and neutral with the park brake engaged, should I be able to turn the front drive shaft at all? I can turn mine about 10-15 degrees back and forth, and the axles aren't budging, so it's all play in the diff. Is that abnormal?

Thanks for the help,
Bill

 

I found this thread, but it's not too definitive. I'm running 4.88's, btw.

https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...riveshaft+play

 

I have 5.38s now, and my results are the same.

 

Thanks, Joe.

I'm trying to identify a clunk that comes from the front that I can reproduce by driving slowly in first or second and jabbing the throttle in quick bursts to make the Jeep lurch. This play seems like it could be the source of that clunk, but I'm no expert.

 

Do you get it in 2WD or just 4WD? I know that in 4WD the transfer case can "wind up" and clunk when all four wheel are engaged properly.

 

This is all in 2WD.

Bill

 

We’ll there’ no real stress up there in 2WD.

If I twist my driveshaft hard left/right I can hear a kinda “clunk” I guess. I can’t say that I’ve ever tried to jab the gas on my Jeep to make it lurch so I can’t say I get the same noise as you are hearing.

If you’re just hearing the driveshaft “clunking” when you jab on/off the gas I wouldn’t worry about it.

 

Just driving around I can hear it sometimes if I don't shift totally smoothly. I think I'll probably take it by the shop that installed my gears just to ease my mind. Thanks, Joe, for your help and advice. Bill.

 

What you are getting is the accumulative backlash in all of the drive components, from the clutch to the rear wheels.

Every manual vehicle I've owned could be made to do the same thing.

It is more apparent in the lower gears, and becomes less noticeable as you progress through the higher gears.

edit to add:

That's not to say you don't have a problem. It's hard to determine if what you have is excessive or not by reading an internet description.

 

DesertJeep - I didn’t notice that you just got new gears, so it wouldn’t hurt to let them check them out.

ronjenx - yeah, I can get the same in manuals too, but with the Jeep in 2WD there no active drive components up front.