Front Axle Disconnect.

[ShadowsPapa]

Looks like I have the FAD issue. It happens from 50-65. 1900 miles, 2022 Mojave. Any suggestions on what to tell the dealership when I take it in?

Explain the noise, and tell them if it disappears when in 4 wheel drive and is only present in 2 wheel drive and take them the TSB and show them.

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[SynntheticWilly]

Looks like I have the FAD issue. It happens from 50-65. 1900 miles, 2022 Mojave. Any suggestions on what to tell the dealership when I take it in?

Maybe provide them the link to this forum! If you look back to one of the original posts they provided a copy of their invoice with the issue. Good luck

 

[JD101]

I going to chime in here on my own personal findings . My JTR started making the intermittent rumble strip sound which became more and more frequent. I couldn't get an appointment for service for 4 weeks min anywhere in my area. I decided to look at an exploded view of the fad/ axle shafts . Made the determination it could be the carbon composite pilot bushing on the end of the inner 2pc shaft . Ordered the bushing ( 2 for $20 at my local dealer) . I pulled the shaft and sure enough the bushing was dry of oil or grease , and had significant deterioration ( powder residue in bottom of bushing ) . I replaced the bushing ,properly lubed the shaft and bushing , reinstalled everything and topped off diff. 2k miles later all is well still. Silent. Probably took me about 1:30 hrs working slowly in my driveway . Cleaning things took the most time .

 

[911brad]

Well add me to the list of Gladiator owners that is likely having the FAD disconnect issue. I think a commonality that I'm sensing from other people I've talked to is first heavy use of 4H. Mine started after a day of driving around in 4H after a big snow storm. It started with a small infrequent noise from under the front passenger well as though I was driving over a rumble strip, but was occurring on smooth pavement. A week later it's starting to last longer and get louder. Unfortunately I couldn't get an appointment until March 22nd.

Hey @JeepCares this is my second Gladiator. I had to have the first one bought back due to chronic electrical issues. Now I'm 4800 miles into my new Gladiator and having major issues AGAIN! I love this truck, but after I get this fixed I can't see why I would ever buy another FCA product again. Now I have to wait 10 days for my appointment, HOPEFULLY they agree this is the problem, then maybe wait a few weeks for parts? Looks like a broken Jeep for at least a month. Do I need to buy a backup vehicle to drive while my BRAND NEW Jeep is in the shop again? Super excited since my last one was gone from October 15th until Jeep bought it back last week....

 

[JeepCares]

Well add me to the list of Gladiator owners that is likely having the FAD disconnect issue. I think a commonality that I'm sensing from other people I've talked to is first heavy use of 4H. Mine started after a day of driving around in 4H after a big snow storm. It started with a small infrequent noise from under the front passenger well as though I was driving over a rumble strip, but was occurring on smooth pavement. A week later it's starting to last longer and get louder. Unfortunately I couldn't get an appointment until March 22nd.

Hey @JeepCares this is my second Gladiator. I had to have the first one bought back due to chronic electrical issues. Now I'm 4800 miles into my new Gladiator and having major issues AGAIN! I love this truck, but after I get this fixed I can't see why I would ever buy another FCA product again. Now I have to wait 10 days for my appointment, HOPEFULLY they agree this is the problem, then maybe wait a few weeks for parts? Looks like a broken Jeep for at least a month. Do I need to buy a backup vehicle to drive while my BRAND NEW Jeep is in the shop again? Super excited since my last one was gone from October 15th until Jeep bought it back last week....

Thanks for tagging us. Please feel free to send our team a private message with extra details and we can assist.

Kate
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[jac04]

I replaced the bushing ,properly lubed the shaft and bushing..

I don't have the FSM for the JT. Is there a specified assembly lubricant for the composite bushing?

 

[JD101]

I used a quality red wheel bearing grease , and tossed some diff lube in the bearing and over shaft and moving parts for good measure ( think cam lube levels of lubricant) . I wasn't shy. Still no issues , working properly.

 

[WhyNotJeep]

Great thread. This is the kind of info that has me keeping my 2014 JKUR longer. Looks like this and some other issues are still being built into the new JT's.

 

[a48jeep]

On Monday I made an appointment with my local dealer to investigate my front axle noise. What began as a sound typical to faint brake pad drag on a wheel rotor, rapidly turned into the wheel rumble described in this forum thread. The sound and behavior are typical to those noted in the above posts.

The dealer can't get me in until the first week of April. I did ask if it was okay to drive it back and forth to work and they said it was. On my Gladiator, the noise seems to begin most often while hitting bumps in the road...smooth highway seems just fine.

After the service and repair, I will happily report back on what the Service Team does to repair it. Other than the noise, my '21 Ecodiesel has been pure joy to drive for the 4,100 miles I have had it...way better than the '75 CJ!

 

[JeepCares]

On Monday I made an appointment with my local dealer to investigate my front axle noise. What began as a sound typical to faint brake pad drag on a wheel rotor, rapidly turned into the wheel rumble described in this forum thread. The sound and behavior are typical to those noted in the above posts.

The dealer can't get me in until the first week of April. I did ask if it was okay to drive it back and forth to work and they said it was. On my Gladiator, the noise seems to begin most often while hitting bumps in the road...smooth highway seems just fine.

After the service and repair, I will happily report back on what the Service Team does to repair it. Other than the noise, my '21 Ecodiesel has been pure joy to drive for the 4,100 miles I have had it...way better than the '75 CJ!

Hey, a48jeep. If you need our support at that April appointment, feel free to contact us!

Kate
Jeep Cares

 

[a48jeep]

Hey, a48jeep. If you need our support at that April appointment, feel free to contact us!

Kate
Jeep Cares

That is pretty awesome of you! Thanks for reaching out Kate -Shawn

 

[911brad]

So I had this problem for about a week and a half, it was getting progressively worse and matched every other description on this thread. Suddenly it's stopped all together and hasn't come back in about 300-400 miles. I'm afraid my dealership won't take me seriously Tuesday and now I'll just have to wait even longer for a repair. Worse yet, now I'm unsure if I should make my planned Jeep trips without the repair and risk being a few hours from home when it breaks for good. Any thoughts on this new turn of events?

 

[SynntheticWilly]

Well, 20 days later and it's still not fixed. A week of them "trying things" like "moved more cables" and "flushed it out to change fluids". I don't know what they changed because I have yet to get the receipt. I called them daily to check and they finally told me it was the front axle. They figured this out because another customer just brought theirs in and it was a constant noise which allowed for them to pinpoint it. Yay right??? WRONG..

3.11 ish is when they "figured it out" and ordered the new axle. I called back last week still no part which was fine because he said 7-10 days. I called back 3.18 and Mike the Service Manger said he would go check on it and call me back. NO CALL BACK! I called back on Monday 3.21 and Mike is "not there this week". I ask the young lady Samantha when the part is coming in. She put me on hold and came back asking if she could call me back. Guess what....No call back!! I call today and speak to Samantha cuz Mike is still not in. She proceeds to tell me that no part was ordered and when she looked up the part that was supposed to be ordered and read the Service Bulletin the part was on hold for:

1. Chrylser does not know for sure if that is the part that is causing the problem
2. The part (Axle) is on quality control hold until June of 2022.

As I ranted for a few moments she told me the only person I can talk to is my salesman. (#1 customer service there).

Talked to Salesman....he told me he's getting the General Manager involved and they will be calling me. They are 0-4 on callbacks so we shall see!

Lastly, my Gladiator is now leaking something. Noticed a spot on the driveway the other day but due to snow melting I chalked it up to that. I noticed the leak today as well dripping off the lowest portion of the exhaust. What are the chances they jacked something up during their "flush and refill" of the fluid I spoke of earlier.

Jeep Gladiator Willys Edition, 2021. Bought brand new 12.31.21. Currently has 3500 miles on it.


Update: 3.22 @430pm: The part that was ordered was canceled by Chrysler because they (Chrysler) are not sure if that will fix the issue. The other customers truck won't see the axle until 4.4 now. So he told me that they are ordering an extra axle (for inventory) so in case that fixed the other truck they will replace mine. Looking at another 2-3 weeks. Asked for a loaner so they are checking on that. At this point their "master mechanic" has dinked with my truck so much that it's like I bought a used vehicle that has had multiple fixes done to it. So aggravating.

Update 3.22@530pm: GM called back to advise me no loaner avail but...Advised me that they found the axle at another dealer and are buying it tomorrow. They are going to put in on the other customers truck since it is undriveable. The Axle that they ordered for the other customer now says it will be in on 3.24. If the other truck gets fixed then they will use that one to put on my truck. I'll be back in a few days to provide what I hope to be is the last update.


Update: 4.26
Sorry, I forgot to update. The Jeep is finally fixed (I hope). So the problem was the bushing at the end of the front passenger axle. The bushing was had a chunk of it missing. They showed me the other Jeep owners axle as well and it also had a chunk out of the bushing. The mechanic told me that it was due to shifting into 4 wheel drive so I'm a bit worried that it may happen again. Hope these posts help someone else get theirs fixed quickly if they run into the same issue.

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