Rear end noise while turning, Does Jeep's response sound right?

[Labman1014]

My 21 Gladiator, 17k miles, developed a noise when making tight turns. Narrowed it down to the rear end. After searches, I see a good bit of issues with the LS clutches going out. I do have the wide track M210 and M220 axles. Made an appointment with my dealer. I had to take the tech on a ride to tell him what to listen for, it was raining and soft top didn't help. He heard it and said rear end. After a little bit, the come to me and say that the gear oil in the rear end is dark and smells burnt. Jeeps wants to change the gear oil to see if it goes away and will be covered under warranty. All fine and dandy, but that's not going to fix what caused the oil to get burnt in the first place. I'm wanting to regear, have 315/70/17 on it now.

So,I called Jeep Wave and opened a case and their response was that was correct, just replace the oil and don't fix the cause.

Now I'm stuck in a hard place, do I go ahead and regear and let the clutches burn the new gear oil and pray that it doesn't get the new gears?

We do not off road our Gladiator. We built it for our sons very rear genetic disorder and to show off at local events. LS is nice in wet conditions but I do not need a locker or I'd just switch out the LS and be done.

What's your thoughts? @JeepCares

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[j.o.y.ride]

Changing the diff oil seems a reasonable thing to let them go ahead and do. Pain for you to have to return later but they aren't going to open up the read end until they have done the easy stuff first.

I would certainly not regear until this is resolved unless you plan on paying whatever is truly broken out of pocket anyways. Then it doesn't matter.

 

[Labman1014]

Changing the diff oil seems a reasonable thing to let them go ahead and do. Pain for you to have to return later but they aren't going to open up the read end until they have done the easy stuff first.

I would certainly not regear until this is resolved unless you plan on paying whatever is truly broken out of pocket anyways. Then it doesn't matter.

The scary part is, they pulled the cover off to drain the gear oil and put on a new gasket, had to go across town to their new building to get it. My rear end has the drain in it. Do they really know what they are doing there, or is it Jeeps policy to open it all the way up?

 

[j.o.y.ride]

The scary part is, they pulled the cover off to drain the gear oil and put on a new gasket, had to go across town to their new building to get it. My rear end has the drain in it. Do they really know what they are doing there, or is it Jeeps policy to open it all the way up?

Well that's odd unless they ordered a quick visual inspection as part of the oil change.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

They opened it up to have a look at the gears and come to their first attempt at fixing it with the new oil. Once gears start howling, oil won’t fix it.

 

[JeepCares]

My 21 Gladiator, 17k miles, developed a noise when making tight turns. Narrowed it down to the rear end. After searches, I see a good bit of issues with the LS clutches going out. I do have the wide track M210 and M220 axles. Made an appointment with my dealer. I had to take the tech on a ride to tell him what to listen for, it was raining and soft top didn't help. He heard it and said rear end. After a little bit, the come to me and say that the gear oil in the rear end is dark and smells burnt. Jeeps wants to change the gear oil to see if it goes away and will be covered under warranty. All fine and dandy, but that's not going to fix what caused the oil to get burnt in the first place. I'm wanting to regear, have 315/70/17 on it now.

So,I called Jeep Wave and opened a case and their response was that was correct, just replace the oil and don't fix the cause.

Now I'm stuck in a hard place, do I go ahead and regear and let the clutches burn the new gear oil and pray that it doesn't get the new gears?

We do not off road our Gladiator. We built it for our sons very rear genetic disorder and to show off at local events. LS is nice in wet conditions but I do not need a locker or I'd just switch out the LS and be done.

What's your thoughts? @JeepCares

Thank you for tagging our team. Feel free to send us a private message that includes your case number and we can dig in.

Kate
Jeep Cares

 

[Undecided]

Wow you have made it farther than I have!
I have this same noise with my 21 Sport S. Almost a kind of "grind" sound anytime I take a sharp turn with acceleration. (Think leaving a parking lot - not fast just accelerating as I turn.)

I've tried twice now and both times have gotten "unreproducible" from techs. May try again now with some added context here.

 

[Larry D]

The scary part is, they pulled the cover off to drain the gear oil and put on a new gasket, had to go across town to their new building to get it. My rear end has the drain in it. Do they really know what they are doing there, or is it Jeeps policy to open it all the way up?

Have them check your gear backlash. When I changed gears in mine the factory backlash was 1.5 thousands burnt oil everything was black.

 

[Labman1014]

Have them check your gear backlash. When changed gears in mine the factory backlash was 1.5 thousands burnt oil everything was black.

Paperwork said they reset backlash also, but I still have OEM gears. Haven't changed yet. I'm wanting the issue fixed b4 I spend the money on new gears.

 

[Larry D]

Paperwork said they reset backlash also, but I still have OEM gears. Haven't changed yet. I'm wanting the issue fixed b4 I spend the money on new gears.

To reset backlash you would literally have to take it apart. Something doesn't add up.

 

[Labman1014]

To reset backlash you would literally have to take it apart. Something doesn't add up.

My thoughts exactly....

 

[Labman1014]

 

[Larry D]

I would ask them exactly how they preformed the backlash reset? Be interested in what they say

 

[CrazyCooter]

Yes, the fluid change will probably take care of the issue from what you describe. I regularly see F150's in with posi clutch chatter and I change the oil and add a heavy dose of friction modifier to aid in it soaking enough into the fiber clutches.

I seriously doubt the tech reset the backlash as there is no shims on the parts list. The troubling thing is that you DO NOT reset backlash on a gear set that has been running that way! You set it according to spec and gear pattern and then it opens over time with normal wear. I always note backlash when servicing or removing a gear set so that it can be duplicated when reinstalled or installed in another vehicle later.

Most people have no idea WTF they are talking about with regard to differential repair, service and upgrades! So much bad info on the interwebs......

 

[Main Line Willys]

skip the dealer. Get it regeared like you want and add a detroit trutrac.

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