Calmini lift w/ grinding noise problem

[BigMeatVX]

Seriously... No Fun W/O the Pun....

That's how ya do it!!!

Of course when your all done, be sure to check the nuts for tightness...

[LittleBeast]

Yeah I have been researching fixing this same problem. I took my drive shaft loose on the rear end yesterday actually and turned it a half turn on the rear end side to see if that would help anything, and nothing at all changed. I cannot get the u-joints to budge at all, they seem firm and strong as ever, I guess I will take off the drive shaft and do the check you mentioned this weekend. How much is a replacement, or should we upgrade? Should I remove my 3rd member and have the gear mesh or adjustments or shims or whatever that is they can adjust before investing in a new driveshaft? I had my diffs rebuilt when I put the new 4.77s in, and the grinding was not that noticeable, but the problem was WAY worse when I put the 2" spacers in on top of the 912s. The 912s by themselves were not that bad, the sound was bareable, now it sounds like a tank everytime I let off the accelerator.

Hmmm.....: http://cardone.com/english/club/Prod...%2065-0001.pdf

http://www.amazon.com/A1-Cardone-659.../dp/B000C45E5U (rebuilt driveshaft for $365)

http://www.isuzuparts.com/partscat.html (new driveshaft for $616)

I found 2 driveline places here in Houston ( http://www.houstondrivetrain.com/ , http://www.ctdriveshafts.com/ ), I am going to ask them how much they would charge to check mine out if I took it off and brought it to them. NOTE: if you take it off make sure you use the emergency brake! Especially if you are running 2wd like me at the moment Don't want any roll away VX's, and it is super easy to take off and put back on.

Adjusting the pinion angle actually might be the easiest fix all you would need to purchase are these 2 items:

https://www.independent4x.com/mercha...roducts_id=481 (adjustable lower links $450)

https://www.independent4x.com/mercha...products_id=50 (adjustable upper link for $220)

Installation would be no problem, but guessing what the correct angle should be (aka how much difference in length from the stock links and the new adjustable one's and which should be shorter and which should be longer)? Uh I haven't a clue, should we try to get back to the stock angle? What is that? What is our current angle with lift?

[VX crazy]

Mine is obviously not lifted barely any....its just my OCD that has me actually turning OFF the stereo searching for noises.....so I guess I should be thankful its not as loud as you guys with the big big lifts!

[BigMeatVX]

the noise you folks are hearing is the loose slip yoke...

As driveline rotational speed increases, the loose fit parts start to swing in an egg-shapped motion...

Changing the Pinion angle will help, but you only need the adjustable upper link or lower links, (u don't need both, unless you just want them)...This really JUST helps the angle on the REAR u-joint, and does not help the actual driveline angle much at all, mabey less than 1 degree!!! (Although the splines would have a SLIGHT slip-depth davantage)
And you will STILL have the problem untill you replace the rear driveline....

I run 919 springs, which give almost 5" of lift... So my rear driveline angle is a noticeably steeper than stock.

Like I said, remove it for inspection and you'll see what I mean...


Your local driveline shop should be able to install a new slip yoke, on your driveline for a couple hundred....Make sure the new splines they use are At LEAST as long as the stock VX one...longer is better as it allows more spline contact area....

[VX crazy]

Well I greased the driveshaft again this morning, ran my errands and the noise is almost totally gone, had to listen very hard to barely hear it......I am wondering if a seal has gone bad....I will see how long it is before it starts with the noise again.

[VX crazy]

Well I greased the driveshaft again this morning, had not greased since a couple months before Moab......ran my errands and the noise is almost totally gone, had to listen very hard to barely hear it (you guys probably wouldnt even hear it)......I am wondering if a seal has gone bad....I will see how long it is before it starts with the noise again.

[BigMeatVX]

You lubed the slip yoke, right? The grease just takes up the clearances on the worn out areas....makes em temporarly tighter and quieter....mine would run for a week or two and then the grease would just heat up and move outta the way a bit...makeing the worn slpined areas loose again...and then noise and vibratioin came back... a bad seal could also be an issue here, but its too late for that now if you hear noises and vibrations

[VX crazy]

Alan, yes I greased u joints and slip yoke, but this morning driving it is making the grinding a tad....so its coming back......