Front drive shaft noise/banging

[Monk]

I can't tell you how many times I assumed the worst !

Is that shaft going up/ down at all? I'm assuming not, and that should just be a spline shaft inside


Anyone correct me if I'm wrong


Pop off your tire, there is a 3/8 square socket plug on the hub, AND the kicker there is supposed to be a bolt inside that hub hole, to hold the half shaft to the hub so it don't move.(I THINK 3/8x1 grade8 bolt)

The bolt prevents that shaft from sliding sideways,....


Man, I'm smirking as I HOPE it's just a cheesy bolt!!!!

I bet your bolt broke inside or loss end off,,


Lol only reason I know is from the good ol wrench parties Roys had,....,They do pay off ,here

[Monk]

The little circle that's above the spindle opening, (top center-ish)that comesoff with a 3/8 socket end, then under that is that 3/8 (9/16 socket head) bolt that I THINK broke or backed off...


Pictur #2 showed item #15 that's the bolt that screws to the tip of the shaft

And you remove item #6 to get to the bolt

[Monk]

To fix you have to remove the half shaft , and see if bolt backed out, and or easy out that darn sucka...

Not sure how as Roy did the operation for bolt removal for me,hehe but he did it quick

[WolfinJeepsClothing]

Thanks again guys. I do have 80/90 gear oil at home left over from my Jeeps so I can peek inside if I need to. I will probably not get to it till the weekend, but I hope it's an easy fix.

[Monk]

No oil Will come out, or should ,hehe its to high, but I'm guessing you might have an easy job, crossing fingers for ya for that high bolt

[Roy]

If the bearings are worn out, the inner of the upper is a pain to remove. Just letting you know prior.
Most common bearing is the lower set, check the upper region of the outer race

[WolfinJeepsClothing]

After a few phone calls to Roy (thanks again), I managed to pull apart and check out my wheel hub. As it turns out, there were shims missing for the upper bearing retainer. I made a spacer out of some scrap ducting I had in the garage and put it back together. The races and rollers looked ok for their age and with the shim in place it spins freely now. By the way the halfshaft retainer bolt inside the hub had backed out a half inch or so too. I just have to fill it up with oil and try it out.


Now, when I put the half shafts back in I discovered the mounting bolt on the driver side of the front diff was backed out and hitting my rotor bolts. I know some of you called that earlier in the thread, but I missed it first time around. It past midnight now so I packed up for the evening and will finish up tomorrow.


Thank you all for your help... if it was a dog it would have bit me!

[WolfinJeepsClothing]

Thanks again everyone in this thread that helped me out. I feel a lot more confident to pull apart the hubs in the future if need be. I have a few leaking seals and knarled up wheel studs I found along the way. That will be a project for another time.


I just got back front a test drive and everything sounds great.


Wolf

[ddgermann]

Great news Wolf. Agreed there are some really clever hands on guys on here who are always ready to offer experience or warn us of the pitfalls. I've learned so much just reading. I also learn lots of "don't dos" that are simply unique to the H1 driveline and truck in general.
 
Happy to hear your noise is gone. It will take a while for you to get the confidence in the mechanical soundness of your truck as if I remember right you just got it recently. Fix one thing and see a weakness somewhere else....   You are now seeing as well with seals, which will lead you to something else. I was 2 full years doing this. Without a shop anymore I had to take mine in, but the process is the same... Just not as satisfying as doing it your self and a bit pricier. The Hummer dealer here in Edmonton said I could hang out and work with the tech. That worked great till he pinched off my main lead to the glowplug controller installing the intercooler manifold and smoked the system when we started the truck. He then said I made him nervous being there and I had to go wait in the waiting room like like an expectant father while he sorted that little mess out. That was the beginning of the end for that relationship....haha
 
It is great you work on your own truck. Pardon the long story... it's likely inspired mostly by jealousy.  haha 
 
Have a great spring ride..find some mud.
 
Derek

[Rocrusher]

Good to hear! I am still working on my noise! Lol