Front Axle Disconnect.

[JeepFox]

Have had my Gladiator back from dealership for a couple days. So far issue appears to be fixed.

See picture.

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[Kballs]

Super disappointed. Just rolled 2,000 miles and I have the rumble strip sound starting from the front passengers side. Did Jeep ever put out a TSB? If so, what’s the number.

21 Rubi...

 

[syreeves]

Super disappointed. Just rolled 2,000 miles and I have the rumble strip sound starting from the front passengers side. Did Jeep ever put out a TSB? If so, what’s the number.

21 Rubi...

How hard is it to remove the FAD? Presumably this hurts mileage but results in a stronger and more reliable front axle?

 

[seven30]

I just noticed the FAD wart on my axle yesterday then hit the forum to find out more about it and what do you know its a potential problem. So is this a quality control issue or a design problem? I have 1700 miles so far so Im not out of the woods from what Ive read.

 

[1JeepFamily]

Checking in here to say that my '21 Mojave is at the dealers now for (what I believe) is this same problem. Only difference is that my noise happens below 20 MPH. Sounds like a rotational grinding that goes away in 4Auto or 4Hi, and you can really feel it in the passenger footwell.

This is my second JT (first was a 2020 Sport S that had the auto start/stop and misfire issues). But as much as I now believe Jeeps are hot American-made garbage... it's my hot American-made garbage!

 

[whiteglad]

12,000 miles so far, no FAD issues.

 

[wakeup2river]

2021 3,000 miles and just had it go while on a remote trip to Utah. Only Mods are a Mopar 2 lift and 34's.

In our case it was actually hard to tell what it was, as the sound is misleading. We were on the highway doing 65 mph (of course in the middle of no where) and all of a sudden a huge woofing-thrumming noise came from the front, like the intake was sucking massive amounts of air. I pulled off and at 10 mph it stopped instantly. There wasn't any RPM run-down sound like you would expect from a running gear problem - just less loud. I looked over everything, checked all gauges, it went in and out of 4H and 4L fine, nothing loose or leaking. I thought maybe something got caught up under the chassis and was making a harmonic wind sound, but no. We took off and it went away until we hit a bump on the highway - a bump like a separation in the pavement. When that happens, WHAM the noise flips back on instantly and super loud. I was almost sure it was intake or engine related.

Once again we slowed to 10 mph and like someone flipped a switch, the sound stopped. Back on the highway again and all is good until the slightest bump then it comes back. Loud enough that you could hear it over a cell phone.

80 miles from Flagstaff we call the Jeep warranty tow number and they said that they could pick up the Jeep but not us, ( cant ride in a tow truck due to covid) and you are on your own for transportation. LOL we are in a tiny Indian Reservation town and no way to get out of there. The closet dealer 80 miles away in Flagstaff said they couldn't even look at it for week.

After some attempts at driving and avoiding bumps the whole sound issue went away completely and we ended up making to Flag and onto Phoenix where the dealer has identified the issue and has the part on order.

Stuff happens, but with $60K spent and only 3,000 miles, one more major issue and my confidence is gone. Around town is one thing, but I can't be that far out and take the chance of a new vehicle stranding me. Its not just Jeep, systems have just gotten way too complex for their own good. A whole screwed up split axle FAD system to get what, a 1/5 of a mile more to the gallon? Yep, Im pissed I sold my 2017 Recon

 

[rharr]

so what is failing?

 

[wakeup2river]

so what is failing?

The service writer said an axle bushing but the tech notes say an axle shaft. Who knows, all roads lead back to the POS FAD axle system with the JL and JT. I hope everyone likes the extra 1/5 mile to the gallon for the complexity and issues this crap has presented.

I'll know more when I pick it up but I'm pretty sure its just a repair-replacement of something that cant be truly fixed. Its an inherent design flaw IMO. NO WAY a true off road vehicle would incorporate this sad BS. Jeep has to suck up to EPA requirements some way and this is the result.

Aside from this the truck is great, but how do you get past this BS.

 

[rharr]

The service writer said an axle bushing but the tech notes say an axle shaft. Who knows, all roads lead back to the POS FAD axle system with the JL and JT. I hope everyone likes the extra 1/5 mile to the gallon for the complexity and issues this crap has presented.

I'll know more when I pick it up but I'm pretty sure its just a repair-replacement of something that cant be truly fixed. Its an inherent design flaw IMO. NO WAY a true off road vehicle would incorporate this sad BS. Jeep has to suck up to EPA requirements some way and this is the result.

Aside from this the truck is great, but how do you get past this BS.

Looks like it would be a good opportunity for manufacturer to build a 1/2" thick steel sleeve that replaces the FAD housing. Granted it wouldn't be bolt on and would require cutting and removing the fad housing from the tube then welding it all back together and a new passenger shaft. But not that much more work then a Gusset kit.

 

[PicklesJ]

I’m at a loss. I haven’t read the entire thread, but I don’t register “front axle disconnect” or “FAD.” I have a 2021 max tow. Checked and rechecked the manual, but can’t find anything.

 

[sass JT]

I’m at a loss. I haven’t read the entire thread, but I don’t register “front axle disconnect” or “FAD.” I have a 2021 max tow. Checked and rechecked the manual, but can’t find anything.

sent you a pm

 

[PicklesJ]

sent you a pm

Received the PM and it explains it perfectly. Thanks!!

 

[SynntheticWilly]

If you hear a thrumming noise from your front end that goes away when you shift from 2Hi to 4Hi, take it to the dealer. I'm told there's a TSB now. Here's the worksheet.

it's 3.2.22 and my Jeep is making the same noise. It started about 2 weeks ago when I heard/felt it and I thought "that was odd". It was very random maybe happening 2-3 times during a 20 mile trip. As the days went on it started happening more frequently and seemed to be getting worse/rougher. Being from Michigan and it being below freezing I thought maybe something was sticking after using 4H a few times before the noise. I put it in 4H and the noise went away. Over the past 2 weeks I would swap back and forth and not once did it happen in 4H. Took to dealership yesterday and after multiple test drives they finally felt the issue (quarter of a tank gone). And yes....they tried to tell me it was the tires but I'm rolling up to 3000 miles so I know the tire noise is not the issue. They greased the bushings, moved a cable and bracket. I have not picked it up yet but when I spoke with the Serv Mgr today he told me the Willy's edition does not have a FAD. I have no clue if that is true but I find it odd that everyone in this forum has explained this issue perfectly. Picking up Jeep later today so I will update.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

it's 3.2.22 and my Jeep is making the same noise. It started about 2 weeks ago when I heard/felt it and I thought "that was odd". It was very random maybe happening 2-3 times during a 20 mile trip. As the days went on it started happening more frequently and seemed to be getting worse/rougher. Being from Michigan and it being below freezing I thought maybe something was sticking after using 4H a few times before the noise. I put it in 4H and the noise went away. Over the past 2 weeks I would swap back and forth and not once did it happen in 4H. Took to dealership yesterday and after multiple test drives they finally felt the issue (quarter of a tank gone). And yes....they tried to tell me it was the tires but I'm rolling up to 3000 miles so I know the tire noise is not the issue. They greased the bushings, moved a cable and bracket. I have not picked it up yet but when I spoke with the Serv Mgr today he told me the Willy's edition does not have a FAD. I have no clue if that is true but I find it odd that everyone in this forum has explained this issue perfectly. Picking up Jeep later today so I will update.

Very easy to determine if it has FAD or not - look at the right side axle tube. If it goes all the way from the differential housing out to the knuckle without a break, it's a no-FAD setup. In other words, if it's like the left or driver side, no FAD. If there's any sort of a box there with any wires, it's got FAD.
Now why would the Willys version not have FAD??

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