D1, 175K, multiple owners. Noticed popping or clicking noise at 15 mph and up. Did front wheel bearings six months ago.

Thinking posts about front propshaft where spot on, I lubed the shaft (two zerks for U joints, one for slip shaft), plus one zerk on U joint for rear shaft, etc. Did not see new grease come out of all four bearings, did come out of most. One discharged a thin black liquid.

Spent afternoon removing propshaft. With propshaft out I engaged the diff lock to move vehicle.

Noise continues. Straight or turning. Under power or coasting. When I hold one foot on the brake, and one on the gas, noise goes away.

Thoughts?

 

Does it happen only while moving?
Have you jacked up the truck and spun the wheels by hand?

 

I was chasing it last night, jacked up the rear, shook it, felt Ok, pulled brake pads and saw the grease build up on previous post. Will be jacking up front wheel and spinning. If I want to spin the rear wheels, can I do that with two jack stands, or should I have all four tires off the ground?

The propshaft looked in good condition, but there is a series of dents and "hammered" area on the floor board above and to the passenger side of the front propshaft rear in a small area, as if the shaft had come apart in the past and beat up the floor. When I removed the propshaft, it would not go into forward or reverse until I locked the diff. Is that normal?

Will have to wait until tomorrow evening to work on it, will check the swivel pin fluid (had filled a few months ago), at the same time did front pads, wheel bearings and discs (were warped).

 

Take your floor jack and just jack up one wheel at a time and spin it listening for the clicking sound.
Each wheel will spin on its own even with the 3 other wheels on the ground.
Yes, with either propshaft removed the truck will not move, the power gets sent to the place of least resistance, that means the output shaft with no propshaft gets the power.

 

Spun both on right side. No clicks or other strange noises. When turning right rear can see drive shaft turning as well, so I suppose that takes rear shaft U joint off the list? Right front has just perceptible movement top to bottom, none side to side. Retighten nut?

When driving noises were more noticed with right window down.

Will spin other side and report.

 

Spun all four wheels. No popping or clicking noises. Checked rear diff fluid, it is full, had changed front/rear/xfer case in last 3 months. Previous owner could have been slow to maintain this. Rear diff is turning when rear wheel on either side is spun, and no noise.

Did notice that it is past time for rear brake pads. Have done front since buying truck, but not the rear. Filled swivels at same time as front brakes. I normally think of pad problems with grinding or scraping, not popping and clicking. Would swivels make noise only under load?

Front wheels have zero movement 9 - 3 wiggle, barely feel and slightly hear 12 - 6 shake. Wheel bearings have less than 2000 miles on them, but the world's sorriest shade tree mechanic did them (dat b me) and could have under tightened.

Started noticing the pop/click after had 50 mph blow out of right rear, had run over a rubber tie down strap from a semi (tarp strap - about 12 inch long with metal "S" hook on each end). I was in lead vehicle, saw it flip under the Disco. Murphy's Law saw an opportunity and siezed it. One end of the hook attached to the rear coil spring. The other snagged in the tire and spit the side wall 100%, we had a wheel with two sidewalls attached, and the entire tread section of the tire was separated, but still in one piece (giant flat donut). Took wheel and shreds to tire shop, got new tire, re-installed. When rolling new tire/wheel don't hear anything inside it. Removed portion of strap and metal hook from spring.

While I have it apart, will do rear brake pads. Any other thoughts, like swivels under load, rear U joint under load, etc.? Front prop shaft is still out.

 

well you need to fix the wheel bearing problem and take off the cap and retighten them correctly but usually its caused by bad swivel ball bearings causing up and down play. but the clicking could be loose parts on the steering box or the front arms. make sure all the the nuts and bolts on the front suspension are tight. I have seen the nuts on the steering arm outside the box get a little loose and cause a slight knocking noise while driving.

 

Did rear pads, no change, will start on front wheel bearings next. Thunderstorm has suspended shade tree operations for the evening. Noise changes with wheel speed, not engine rpm, so I am betting on bearings.

 

Rovin4life called it. Checked swivel lube, it was a lot lower than when I filled it 4 months ago. Filled it only on right side and noise lessened a great deal, but still had some noise, and also when you run over something on that side (like a bump in the road or a stick) there is a pop, which I suppose is from the up/down motion of swivel ball bearings.

I would suppose that there is no magic elixer to pour in with the lube?

Under "normal" conditions how many miles on the swivels before replacement?

The replacement units are not inexpensive. Is this something that I could get from a salvage yard and refurbish, or is it like buying used brake pads?