Bad Grinding from Front Left when put into 4WD

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Emoto

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2002 Liberty LTD. V6, auto, 242(?) transfer case - 2wd, 4wd Lo, 4wd Hi, FullTime 4wd.

While rolling forward, and I put it from 2wd into 4wd Hi or FullTime 4wd, I get a medium high freq grinding from the left front. I sure as hell don't want to drive it like that. I can only imagine it causing further damage. No bad sounds in 2wd. Also, a couple of times, I have heard and felt a loud thunk up front somewhere after either putting it into or taking it out of 4wd (can't recall which), but not every time.

So, what do you guys think is going on? I have to get it into a shop this week to have it looked at.
 

HoosierJeeper

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Check the driveshaft CV joint at the tcase end- the boots fail and dirt gets in and makes all kinds of noises. Since it's under the driver's seat the front left source makes sense.
 

Emoto

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Check the driveshaft CV joint at the tcase end- the boots fail and dirt gets in and makes all kinds of noises. Since it's under the driver's seat the front left source makes sense.

Thanks for the tip. I will do that. Right now it is parked in over a foot of fresh snow that just fell over the last 24 hours. So, now is when I need that 4wd capability most.
 

ltd02

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Thanks for the tip. I will do that. Right now it is parked in over a foot of fresh snow that just fell over the last 24 hours. So, now is when I need that 4wd capability most.

Murphy's law enforced again :gr_grin:
 

JDa

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I had a similar problem and turned out driver's cv axle was going bad. Once I changed it out I did not have any more issues.

When was last time you changed transfer case fluid?
 

Emoto

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I had a similar problem and turned out driver's cv axle was going bad. Once I changed it out I did not have any more issues.

When was last time you changed transfer case fluid?

Thanks for your response! I would have to check my records, but I haven't changed TC fluid in a long time.

I am hoping it is a CV joint, as that would not break the bank to fix.
 

krisP

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im getting a similar thing but a knock only in 4WD, i think coming from passenger side. Brand new tcase end cv , no apparent problems with cv axles but if im going to take them out to examine then im just going to replace. Replacing diff side of cv driveshaft first to be sure since i have the joint already.

2wd no noise, and 4wd still works just fine so fingers crossed
 

cheapjeep

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Check the driveshaft CV joint at the tcase end- the boots fail and dirt gets in and makes all kinds of noises. Since it's under the driver's seat the front left source makes sense.

I believe this is the problem,,I had the same noise and the cv boot had failed. It cost 105.00 dollars for the new cv joint and boot kit..ebay it's 35 bucks. good luck.
 

jeepguy4276

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Driveshaft Cv joint at the transfer case is my guess. Pretty easy job. I wouldn't by the part from driveshaftparts.com though. It only takes 1-2 hours to do and is pretty cheap too. Lots of info on here and YouTube on how to do it.
 

Emoto

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They are telling me it is the CV joint on the forward driveshaft, and that the cv joint is NOT serviceable and you have to buy the whole new shaft, part number "52111597aa"??

Is this possible?
 
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krisP

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They are telling me it is the CV joint on the forward driveshaft, and that the cv joint is NOT serviceable and you have to buy the whole new shaft, part number "52111597aa"??

Is this possible?

no you can buy the cv rebuild kits, some are 100 ish some are 50

dorman i beleive are the 100ish ones, places like automotivepartsunlimited and a1auto have for 50
 

Emoto

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no you can buy the cv rebuild kits, some are 100 ish some are 50

dorman i beleive are the 100ish ones, places like automotivepartsunlimited and a1auto have for 50

My googling seemed to show what you say. Thanks for confirming that! Maybe they are only aftermarket and Jeep doesn't offer them? This being a Jeep dealership, they only want to follow the OEM path?
 

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