Sounds like U joint but isn't

Paul O'Leary · 11-15-2012, 11:13 AM

2005 EX Element with 70K miles. At all speeds hear what sounds like u-joint going bad, or sound similar to very old military 4X4s - not exactly a grinding. Don't think trans related as noise constant whether coasting in neutral, drive or reverse. Put up on lift, ran at 10 MPH and NO NOISE. So, has something to do with weight/load. Had various mechanics look, ride, drive, assess. No solutions. Did, on one mechanic's advise, change right front drive shaft bearing...no change, same noise. Have read threads about rear differential but not certain symptoms and sounds same as those described; yet will anyway in near future r/r fluid. Meantime, interested to hear your opinions/advise. Thanks.

jesbecause · 11-15-2012, 03:02 PM

Is your profile filled out correctly ? If your vehicle is a 2wd , I can definitely say it is not the rear differential fluid . Could be a number of things that a good mechanic should be able to diagnose .

Good luck

Paul O'Leary · 11-28-2012, 08:39 AM

In fact my profile was wrong, have EX 4WD.

Hajidub · 11-28-2012, 09:39 AM

Differential fluid change made my symptoms, similar to yours, go away. Do you get the the shutter/squeal during slow, tight radius turns also?

hunterstroble · 11-28-2012, 09:58 PM

Wheel bearing? Is the noise louder when turning either direction?

Paul O'Leary · 12-17-2012, 08:16 AM

Plan to change fluid. Difficult as living in Italy and companies stocking fluid can't ship overseas. Oh well...that is another issue. Regarding noise louder while turning, I don't notice any change whatsoever. Evident even when I shift into neutral. Funny, when on lift, off ground, can't hear the noise.

GaryS · 12-17-2012, 10:43 AM

[QUOTE=Paul O'Leary;974627 Funny, when on lift, off ground, can't hear the noise.[/QUOTE]

Not funny at all. It's because there is no load on the gears.

11-15-2012, 11:13 AM	#1
Paul O'Leary EOC Rank: Hydrogen 2005 4WD EX AT Rallye Red (RR) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Vicenza, Italy Posts: 4	Sounds like U joint but isn't 2005 EX Element with 70K miles. At all speeds hear what sounds like u-joint going bad, or sound similar to very old military 4X4s - not exactly a grinding. Don't think trans related as noise constant whether coasting in neutral, drive or reverse. Put up on lift, ran at 10 MPH and NO NOISE. So, has something to do with weight/load. Had various mechanics look, ride, drive, assess. No solutions. Did, on one mechanic's advise, change right front drive shaft bearing...no change, same noise. Have read threads about rear differential but not certain symptoms and sounds same as those described; yet will anyway in near future r/r fluid. Meantime, interested to hear your opinions/advise. Thanks.

11-28-2012, 08:39 AM	#3
Paul O'Leary EOC Rank: Hydrogen 2005 4WD EX AT Rallye Red (RR) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Vicenza, Italy Posts: 4	Updated Profile In fact my profile was wrong, have EX 4WD.

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11-15-2012, 03:02 PM	#2
jesbecause EOC Rank: Carbon 2008 4WD LX MT Nighthawk Black Pearl (NBP) Join Date: May 2006 Location: long island n.y Posts: 1,080	Is your profile filled out correctly ? If your vehicle is a 2wd , I can definitely say it is not the rear differential fluid . Could be a number of things that a good mechanic should be able to diagnose . Good luck

11-28-2012, 09:39 AM	#4
Hajidub EOC Rank: Oxygen 2005 4WD EXS Rallye Red (RR) Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 485	Differential fluid change made my symptoms, similar to yours, go away. Do you get the the shutter/squeal during slow, tight radius turns also?

11-28-2012, 09:58 PM	#5
hunterstroble EOC Rank: Hydrogen 2003 4WD DX AT Satin Silver Metallic (SSM) Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 7	Wheel bearing? Is the noise louder when turning either direction?

12-17-2012, 08:16 AM	#6
Paul O'Leary EOC Rank: Hydrogen 2005 4WD EX AT Rallye Red (RR) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Vicenza, Italy Posts: 4	Plan to change fluid. Difficult as living in Italy and companies stocking fluid can't ship overseas. Oh well...that is another issue. Regarding noise louder while turning, I don't notice any change whatsoever. Evident even when I shift into neutral. Funny, when on lift, off ground, can't hear the noise.

12-17-2012, 10:43 AM	#7
GaryS EOC Rank: Neon 2008 4WD LX MT Atomic Blue Metallic (ABM) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Toe-puke-ah, Kansas Posts: 2,126	[QUOTE=Paul O'Leary;974627 Funny, when on lift, off ground, can't hear the noise.[/QUOTE] Not funny at all. It's because there is no load on the gears.

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