Transfer Case and or Drive Shaft Clicking? See Video

[ruscopin]

2 weeks ago, I began experiencing a clicking sound that appears to be coming from the transfer case. It seems to be loudest around that area so I mounted a GoPro in various areas to see if I could see anything moving. The video is moving in my driveway, but I can hear it at faster speeds. I have gone through the forums, and I am sure it's not ball joints. All my suspension and johnny joints are tight and lubed, I confirmed this last week. It seems to me to be the transfer case or drive shaft.

Has anyone else experienced this and found the culprit? My clicking noise

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[DylanM]

Prime suspect in my mind would be the bolts holding the driveshaft to the t-case output -- check to see if any are loose.

Second suspect would be the nut holding the driveshaft flange to the t-case output shaft.

 

[Bully4]

My 21 Mojave clicks at times when turning in parking lots. Seems similar to yours. I'm racking my brain to figure it out. A/P your videos, it doesn't seem to be in sync with a moving part. I'm curious what it is. I know that driveline and frame noises can resonate and lead you down a wrong path. I've seen transmissions pulled for rear-end issues. I've also seen dry hood bumpers on International trucks make noises like the cab was gonna fall off. Please chime in if you get it figured out.

 

[Freems]

Mine was doing the same after a two day back country trip…the clicking noise was driving me crazy…turned out to be a small rock was jammed into the disc brake shield. Good luck hunting it down.

 

[Lost1wing]

Have you tried putting the t/c in 4H or 4L and see if the noise changes?

 

[AmosMoses]

Mine makes this same noise, mostly when backing out of my driveway. It sounds like it's coming from the rear or just behind me. It began after a trip out of state and then treating the underside with fluid film one weekend. I've also noticed when parking into spots going forward with the wheels slightly turned. I've tried bouncing the rear around by jumping on the rear bumper to see if I can reproduce the sound but I can't, leading me to believe it is coming from something that rotates.

I will have to try checking the driveshaft bolts as suggested above. Mine just turned 46k miles btw.

 

[Bully4]

Mine makes this same noise, mostly when backing out of my driveway. It sounds like it's coming from the rear or just behind me. It began after a trip out of state and then treating the underside with fluid film one weekend. I've also noticed when parking into spots going forward with the wheels slightly turned. I've tried bouncing the rear around by jumping on the rear bumper to see if I can reproduce the sound but I can't, leading me to believe it is coming from something that rotates.

I will have to try checking the driveshaft bolts as suggested above. Mine just turned 46k miles btw.

Exactly what happened to me. I used ACF 50. I've worked on boom trucks in past jobs. The trucks with hydraulic fluid seepage always had frames that looked cherry. The ones I fixed (LOL) always had rusty frames.

I can only figure that something is shifting slightly and sending that clicking noise up through the frame. Sooner of later, I'll figure it out. Something tells me that it involves a skid plate since they have that big plate of steel to echo the sound. Weird but probably a Jeep thing. They definitely are not quiet and refined!

 

[GIOI24]

Mine happens only in 4H...around 20-25mph. I have had a new TC put in by the dealership, new driveshaft, realignment, etc. and it still persists. I think my pinion angle is still off but it drives me crazy. Still on the hunt...

 

[tysongladiator]

I don't know if this is the problem for any of you, but I do have a suggestion. So I had this noise that started as a clicking noise and graduated to a roaring noise. Turned out to be a bad pinion bearing. Turns out that the JT's factory pinion bearing is designed, it's notorious for going bad. I'll attach a youtube video at the bottom of this post. Unfortunately I don't have a video of the noise when it first started, but I do have a video of what it sounded like right before I got it fixed and what the fix was.

Like I said, I don't know if this is anyone's problem, but it might be something to think about.

Here's the video:

 

[Bully4]

Take a look above your rear coil spring towers-they ride very close to the bed. I just happened to notice when I checked the driveline for play. I'm sure those big honkin' tires throw a little twist into everything each time you turn the wheels, even just slightly.
Tyson- I did read your post and watch the video. I'm hoping it's just something stupid. But....one cannot be sure. My driveline seems tight so far.

 

[SandSurfer]

Mine is making exactly the same noise!!! It started on the way back from a trip to Sand Hallow in August. The only time I hear it is when stopping and starting??? It may be making the noise while I'm driving, but the 38" M/T's are not the quietest tires in the world.
I found the jam nuts on my front upper CA's loose, so I thought the threads had stripped causing the noise….ordered a new set of upper control arms and swapped them out…………….. still making the noise!!!! I have tightened ALL the control arms and their jam nuts, shock bolts, skid plate mounts, ETC… This is driving me NUTS!!! Is it possible that the stupid Rzzepa joints are bad?
BTW I'm at 84,000 miles

 

[Bully4]

Mine mostly does it when I turn into a parking spot. And when I back out of the garage and turn onto road while backing. Seems like a twist or slight grade can do it as well. Guess I'll turn the radio up till it becomes obvious. BTW-my pinion seems tight. My Mojave is at 25k miles. I bought it used. From the residue that was on frame and past records, I'm pretty sure it came from the Northern part of the US. If I get it figured out, I'll let everyone know. Please do the same.

This reminds me of the clicking noise my wife's Subaru made. Turned out to be the trunk lid bumpers needed tightened.

 

[AmosMoses]

Mine mostly does it when I turn into a parking spot. And when I back out of the garage and turn onto road while backing. Seems like a twist or slight grade can do it as well. Guess I'll turn the radio up till it becomes obvious. BTW-my pinion seems tight. My Mojave is at 25k miles. I bought it used. From the residue that was on frame and past records, I'm pretty sure it came from the Northern part of the US. If I get it figured out, I'll let everyone know. Please do the same.

This reminds me of the clicking noise my wife's Subaru made. Turned out to be the trunk lid bumpers needed tightened.

I think twisting or weight shift needs to happen for mine as well. My first hunch was rear swaybar since it seems some people have snapped theirs but upon inspection it appeared in good condition. I've not checked torque on everything though.

 

[Aleph]

Mine mostly does it when I turn into a parking spot. And when I back out of the garage and turn onto road while backing. Seems like a twist or slight grade can do it as well.

This sounds most similar to the conditions that may cause this sound on mine, if we're talking about the same sound. I park in a parking deck on a slight grade, and the sound happens when I turn into a parking space perpendicular to the grade. Doesn't have to be triggered by going into reverse from drive/park or vice versa. At first I thought it had something to do with my steering, but not as convinced now because I can't reproduce it by turning the steering wheel while the vehicle is at rest. It may just be linked to the movement of turning on a grade. Really not sure.

I just took my Gladiator into the dealership yesterday for other, different noises I suspect are coming from either shocks or a partially unseated rear spring sleeve, but didn't tell them about this sound since I didn't want the truck stuck in the dealership forever to hunt down the source. Maybe next time.

 

[ruscopin]

Thank you all for the responses, I was traveling this week and couldn't investigate further. Like Amos, it has 46k miles and I just treated the underside with a fluid film but not likely to have anything to do with it. In my scenario, I had a couple Johnny Joints that would creak but I knew where that noise was coming from. I took it out to AOAA and flexed it quite a bit and it never felt better driving home. No more creaking Johnny joints. But within days, this noise began. I don't care about noises when I am aware of where they originate from, but I am still chasing this one.


Based on the responses,

Drive Shaft Bolts to TC output - Verified, nothing loose.
Drive Shaft Nut holding Flange to TC - Not verified (Maybe)
4L and 4H verify noise - Verified - Tried 4H, no change in noise
Pinion Bearing - Placed camera on rear axle near pinion area (Maybe)
Rear coil Spring Towers - Placed camera in area and recorded video

I created another video with a focus on these areas while flexing and driving.
Ticks part 2

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