Strange noise - UJ gone?

Hi all,

I'm relatively new to Defender ownership and I've been learning as I go. Doing some of the things myself (with the help of Haynes) and sticking it into Challenger4x4 for the more ambitious stuff.

I'm a bit stuck with something and could really do with some pointers.

I have a 1996 300TDI 110 SW and it's recently (last 2-3 weeks) started making a strange noise when I accelerate or decelerate, it makes a strange rattle/buzz noise. After reading a few threads on here I thought it might be the UJs.

However, I got underneath tonight with a big ol' screwdriver and couldn't see any play at all in the UJs. Can they still be worn enough to make a noise, but have no obvious play in them?

Or is it likely to be something else altogether??

Cheers,

Jud

are they greased regulary?

When I bought it in Feb I had Challenger4x4 do a massive service and I believe they were done then. In Defender terms, is that regular enough?

judders said:

When I bought it in Feb I had Challenger4x4 do a massive service and I believe they were done then. In Defender terms, is that regular enough?

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depends what you use it for?

after a days playin in the mud i always regrease untill the grease oozes out of the nipple,job done its simple and dont cost a lot but can save a lot of hassle later on

It hasn't had much use at all since I bought it, just a few camping trips and used for local journeys. Certainly nothing strenuous in the last few months.

I'll grease 'em tomorrow and see if it makes a difference, cheers.

My 1996 110 300tdi has been making a similar noise over the last couple of weeks. I have been advised to check the UJs immediately after a drive as the worn UJ will be hot.

Not really driven it over the last few days so I havent checked them yet. Do I grease the UJ itself, or the nipple on the prop? I assume a grease gun with a particular nozzle is needed to fit the nipple. Are these nozzles easily available to buy?

Could be a heat shield come loose ? props ar more clonky with vibration + the ocational tinging sound .
When you checked your UJs was the landy chocked with the handbrake off ??

sypher said:

Could be a heat shield come loose ? props ar more clonky with vibration + the ocational tinging sound .
When you checked your UJs was the landy chocked with the handbrake off ??

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Sorry to ask a stupid question, but is there a particular heat sheild that's likely to have come loose? Apologies, I'm a total novice when it comes to Defenders.

Nope, it was parked with the handbrake on. Which I'm guessing by your question was the wrong way to check, I'll do it again properly tomorrow. Doh.

We all start somewhere , Id look at exhaust heat sheilds or even exhaust joints , but rattles and vibes are a pain in the ass to find , more so if they only do it on the move .

as a novice to fenders, listen to sypher, some kinda landrover god like genius

got a rattle on mine, if i make it struggle, 5th too soon or summint, so i'll be under her tomorrow checking aswell

ive got a new vibration on mine (yes its a disco but basically the same stuff) under accelleration the whole car vibrates. How exactly do you check the props and what exactly do you look for?

Ive got a similar noise on my RR classic when i hit around 40 - 50 mph like a grinding noise and i changed the ujs and the prop is well greased ive given up now, ive no idea what it is but its deffo off the front end of the gearbox / tranny box somewhere

thainy said:

as a novice to fenders, listen to sypher, some kinda landrover god like genius

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LOL i wouldnt go half that far but thanks , but rattles do annoy the hell out of me tho .
Just found one of my rattles this week after several days of it getting on my tits , was my handbrake linkage chinking away .... stupid little thing but i could hear it .

V8_Disco said:

ive got a new vibration on mine (yes its a disco but basically the same stuff) under accelleration the whole car vibrates. How exactly do you check the props and what exactly do you look for?

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thats more like propshaft issues , - chock ya wheels , hand brake off ( not on a hill :doh: ) grab one end of your propshaft by the yoke and grab the prop itself and try and twist in oposite directions , do the same on the other yoke of the same shaft and check for movement in the UJs , there should be none whatsoever . Also push and pull on the prop close to you UJs to see if you have side play ( should be none )

Dont think there is a prob when you rotate the front prop in relation to the rear prop through the transfer box as that is normal around 1/4 of a turn .
Your only interested in the propshaft itself for now .

Muddy Gonzo said:

Ive got a similar noise on my RR classic when i hit around 40 - 50 mph like a grinding noise and i changed the ujs and the prop is well greased ive given up now, ive no idea what it is but its deffo off the front end of the gearbox / tranny box somewhere

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Output shaft bearing of the tranny ?? Whip your prop off ya tranny and give it a spin etc

sypher said:

Output shaft bearing of the tranny ?? Whip your prop off ya tranny and give it a spin etc

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Cheers buddy changing the gearbox in a couple of week anyway as its about ready and i got a bargin on a g/box & t/box so me and pikey are gonna do a transplant and fit a new clutch in aswell.

Had a similar vibration and buzzing noise that apeared at 40mphish upwards a while ago, the faster i went the worse it got, when driving at slower speeds there was no noise or vibration. I was 100% sure it was the front prop ujs, im sure there was a guide on how to change them on here somewhere! Anyway i changed them and it made no difference, then I changed the back prop ujs just in case and that made no difference either. Decided to put a pair of heavy duty props on, (got a 2" lift and was uming and arghing about doing it anyway) but the shop only had the rear one in stock. I was really in the mood to do it so I got and fitted it and to cut a really long story short (kind of lol) it solved all my noise, vibration problems.

i have a tiny tiny bit of play in 1 uj, by the box end of the front prop. i did notice that i can turn the whole front prop a few degree's while it is all still connected, just as it is parked, handbrake on etc, but nothing at all on the back, is that right?

could this explain the knock when changing from reverse to forward gears?

oh and i noticed this, im no expert but it doesnt seem worth puttin a wading plug in if its next to this?? Twitpic - Share photos on Twitter