Angry Sparrows

[04unlimited]

Has anyone else experienced these yet?

I recently heard this noise coming from God knows where under the Jeep that I had a hard time placing...once I realized that the noise (which comes and goes) corresponds to the speed that the tires are rotating and after some searching on some of the bigger Forums my problem has a name...Angry Sparrows...which is appropriate actually.

Anyway, seems that I need a new ball centering kit, and will be changing the U-joints on the font drive shaft at the CV joint.

Hopefully all goes well.

[malone]

i'm getting a similar squeaking noise coming from somewhere in the front axle assembly(i think). squeaks about once per turn of the tire and does it more when at low speeds when the wheel is turned. I can really notice it when in parking lots and backing out of parking spaces. The squeaking comes and goes. Sounds similar to your's. Keep us posted

[04unlimited]

I replaced all the U-joints and the ball centering kit and the noise is completely gone. After inspecting the U-Joints, they seem to all have been fine. I replaced them with greasable versions anyway.

I would highly recommend a U-Joint puller from Harbor Freight if you plan to do this job yourself.

www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=38335

and if you follow the directions here, you should be able to do this yourself very easily.

www.stu-offroad.com/axle/driveshaft/driveshaft-5.htm

Total cost of the parts was about $100 ($65 from NAPA for the ball centering kit)

[04unlimited]

malone said:

i'm getting a similar squeaking noise coming from somewhere in the front axle assembly(i think). squeaks about once per turn of the tire and does it more when at low speeds when the wheel is turned. I can really notice it when in parking lots and backing out of parking spaces. The squeaking comes and goes. Sounds similar to your's. Keep us posted

What you are describing sounds exactly like mine. I though for a few days that it was coming from somewhere on the font axle. When I finally traced it back to the ball centering kit, and moved it by hand, I was surprised to hear and feel the friction coming from so far back on the front shaft.

[timmy24540]

Good job, I'll be sure to keep that in mind if I have something like that occur. Great ref. on the do it yourself.

[malone]

yep...looks like i'll be havin' to do that shortly. Thanks for the Stu offroad link. His site is awesome!!!! I can't believe i've never seen it before.

Thanks!!!!