Tapping coming from the rear

[derekjm14]

Hello, I'm really hoping some one will be able to help me out with this problem. There is this fast tapping sound coming from the rear of my wife's Liberty. It's a 2004 with about 90k on it. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to the sound. Some times it occurs at 30 mph and some times it occurs at 55 mph. Slowing down, speeding up, turning the wheel, or tapping the brakes have no affect on the sound. It just stops after a couple of minutes. I checked over both the front and rear of the vehicle and nothing seems to be loose. At this point I am getting really frustrated. It's loud enough that you can hear it inside the vehicle and when you roll down a window it's really loud. It seems to be driving fine. If it wasn't for the noise there wouldn't be a problem. Please let me know of any suggestions or ideas you may have. I would rather fix it myself than take it in, I just don't like other people working on my vehicles.

 

[JeepJeepster]

Check the u joints on the rear drive shaft.. Check the cv joints+boots on the front drive shaft also.

You can check the cv joints on the front suspension too but I would say they would get louder when you turned at low speeds(LOUD CLICKING).

 

[Powerslave]

Check the u joints on the rear drive shaft.. Check the cv joints+boots on the front drive shaft also.

You can check the cv joints on the front suspension too but I would say they would get louder when you turned at low speeds(LOUD CLICKING).

CV Joints usually make noise when turning while applying the gas. That is a specific clickity-clickity sound too... I hear it all the time from other cars as they make a bend... REAR noise tapping/clicking can be differential, U-Joints, or in my case, just the rear hatch making noise on bumps...

Sounds can travel through metal, so if the rear portion of the Xfer case was tapping, it can sound like it is coming from the rear... It's hard to tell when it is intermittent.

 

[derekjm14]

Thanks for the help!!! I will check everything out when I get home from work tonight. I did notice that the transfer case seems to be leaking just a little. I'm assuming that they may be related. How do you tell if a U-joint is bad? If it's the differential does it just need a fluid change or could it be going out?

 

[JeepJeepster]

How many times have you changed the diff fluids and tcase fluids thus far?

There are a few different ways to check a ujoint. One is to check for up and down or side to wide play. Another is to take the drive shaft off and see if the ujoints freely move. Just depends on how bad the joint is.

Check the front drive shaft for sure. Check it by trying to move it up and down and side to side. Check the boots on that shaft also, they tend to dry out and break a part.

 

[derekjm14]

Yeah, I will definately check that out. I hate to admit this but the fluids have never been changed. I was going to go ahead and change them out this weekend no matter what.

 

[SDLiberty]

Hello, I'm really hoping some one will be able to help me out with this problem. There is this fast tapping sound coming from the rear of my wife's Liberty. It's a 2004 with about 90k on it. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to the sound. Some times it occurs at 30 mph and some times it occurs at 55 mph. Slowing down, speeding up, turning the wheel, or tapping the brakes have no affect on the sound. It just stops after a couple of minutes. I checked over both the front and rear of the vehicle and nothing seems to be loose. At this point I am getting really frustrated. It's loud enough that you can hear it inside the vehicle and when you roll down a window it's really loud. It seems to be driving fine. If it wasn't for the noise there wouldn't be a problem. Please let me know of any suggestions or ideas you may have. I would rather fix it myself than take it in, I just don't like other people working on my vehicles.

I have the same problem now..... But what i've found is that there is something behind one of the Wheel center caps that is making the noise. Not saying that is your issue, but its worth looking at. Could be that simple.kopkrab.gif Haven't had a chance yet to look......work seems to get in the way sometimes. LOL

 

[rockymountain]

could just rotate tires and see if the noise changes. that would rule out wheels or not. If you rotated them yourself though you might as well look behind the cap. Just a thought...

 

[derekjm14]

Yeah, the first thing I thought was the brakes or something stuck in the wheel. I rotated the tires last night and checked out all four corners but nothing seemed to be loose or out of place. I am definately going to check out the transfer case tonight, both differentials, the U-joints, and the rear tailgate. Hopefully I can find it and fix it.

 

[SDLiberty]

could just rotate tires and see if the noise changes. that would rule out wheels or not. If you rotated them yourself though you might as well look behind the cap. Just a thought...

Is there little screws that hold the cap on to the rim or do they just snap in? (Steel stock rims)

 

[rockymountain]

Is there little screws that hold the cap on to the rim or do they just snap in? (Steel stock rims)

I'm not sure about the steel ones but the aluminum ones have screws on the backside of the rim.

 

[derekjm14]

The center cap just snaps in.

 

[SDLiberty]

Well, went to pry off my center cap and sure enough. A screw came rolling out. I've had the wheels off but never really looked at the caps...