Hello everyone. My 04’ Disco II is making a flapping noise while accelerating to speeds above 10kmh. The closest thing I could compare the noise to is the noise produced by a playing card stuck in a bicycle spoke. The noise gets louder as I go faster. In addition to the flapping noise, I can feel the truck rumbling slightly.

A different noise is produced when coasting and not accelerating. The noise is a rapid click. My best guess is a drive train or transfer case issue, as the flapping/clicking is not heard while at a stop. I have some 75w-90 gear oil on order as the transfer case fluid is quite low, though I am not confident that topping off the oil will remove the noise. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

Check the front driveshaft

 

The front drive shaft has new u-joints, installed two months ago. This problem began about a month after the u-joints were replaced.

 

check that t-case fluid level - when one is about to let go they make a sort of "catching" sound and it will impede the movement of the landy off and on until it locks up

 

Check the engine fan and that it's not basically doing exactly what you're describing.

 

Thank you for the suggestion. The noise is not present while at a stop. But I checked just to be sure there were no objects stuck in the fan.

 

Was the center bearing replaced with the u joints? It can make the same noise. Pull shaft and spin/flex by hand on the DC side to see if you hear clicking.

 

No, the center bearing was not replaced.

Should the front driveshaft have a little left/right play when hand-rotating the shaft with the wheels on the ground?

 

The spring loaded center bearing takes out the slop between the joints. I just went through this on a 99. Even on the rig I could make the shaft with new joints move.
edit: you'll have some spin slop due to some designed drive line play but you should have zero play in drive shaft joints..

 

I replaced the drive shaft with a pre-built hardened drive shaft and the noise is still there. Any suggestions? I’m stumped.