ZJ Grand Rear diff noise...

[bilt4mud]

HI all, I've got a 97 GC which I've used off road many times. I had some noise coming from the rear end a few years back, I thought it was my mud tyres. But just the other day I put on the original tyres on there, n crap the noise is still there.

It's a humming noise like muddies, but I notice it's noticably louder when say you cruise at 70km/h and then you let go off the gas. I reckon it could be the ring and pinions....

am I correct or could it be bearings, like pinion bearings?

Any feedback would be appeciated.

Cheers

Bilt4mud

[jake]

check the wheel bearings, mine sounded like trhat as well
dont let them wear too much as they run directly onto the axle and they can chew into it.

I replaced mine after 140,000 km and used the same axles, just emery papered them smooth..so far so good after 20,000km

about $80 each from Jeep and $67 each from SKF bearings and $8 each for the seals

easy job just need an internal bearing puller.

[mountainman]

Carrier bearings? Mine has a similar noise and it turned out to be the diff carrier bearings. A diff and trans place will give a good diagnosis from up on the hoist.

[bilt4mud]

hmmmm it looks like it could be a whole diff apart job, I'm afraid it could be a both the wheel and carrier bearings. I had a bit of mud in the diffs once.

Maybe it's time to get that ARB air locker in it while I'm at it.

Thanks for the help fellas.

Bilt4mud

[djsteve]

my xj has exactly the same noise at the moment. got worse after towing a car and trailer - leads me to think it problems with the diff. as to what I'm not sure yet.