My Jeep has a manual trans. and when I release the clutch to engage the
wheels (at any speed), there's a pretty loud slapping noise -- obviously
from the engagement of the tires.

I lifted the rear end and noticed I could turn the rear tires 1/4
revolution in either direction before the axle moved. My father says
"That's a lot of play." My question is: "is it?" Is this normal for a
jeep?

Thanks
K.

 

I think your father is right. Is the play in the diff or the u-joints ?
Dave Milne, Scotland
'91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ

"Kaelanmon" <kaelanr@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:5425eff46298ce35338002bfa2a92c95@localhost.ta lkaboutautos.com...
> My Jeep has a manual trans. and when I release the clutch to engage the
> wheels (at any speed), there's a pretty loud slapping noise -- obviously
> from the engagement of the tires.
>
> I lifted the rear end and noticed I could turn the rear tires 1/4
> revolution in either direction before the axle moved. My father says
> "That's a lot of play." My question is: "is it?" Is this normal for a
> jeep?
>
> Thanks
> K.
>
>
>

 

I think your father is right. Is the play in the diff or the u-joints ?
Dave Milne, Scotland
'91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ

"Kaelanmon" <kaelanr@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:5425eff46298ce35338002bfa2a92c95@localhost.ta lkaboutautos.com...
> My Jeep has a manual trans. and when I release the clutch to engage the
> wheels (at any speed), there's a pretty loud slapping noise -- obviously
> from the engagement of the tires.
>
> I lifted the rear end and noticed I could turn the rear tires 1/4
> revolution in either direction before the axle moved. My father says
> "That's a lot of play." My question is: "is it?" Is this normal for a
> jeep?
>
> Thanks
> K.
>
>
>

 

I think your father is right. Is the play in the diff or the u-joints ?
Dave Milne, Scotland
'91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ

"Kaelanmon" <kaelanr@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:5425eff46298ce35338002bfa2a92c95@localhost.ta lkaboutautos.com...
> My Jeep has a manual trans. and when I release the clutch to engage the
> wheels (at any speed), there's a pretty loud slapping noise -- obviously
> from the engagement of the tires.
>
> I lifted the rear end and noticed I could turn the rear tires 1/4
> revolution in either direction before the axle moved. My father says
> "That's a lot of play." My question is: "is it?" Is this normal for a
> jeep?
>
> Thanks
> K.
>
>
>

 

I think your father is right. Is the play in the diff or the u-joints ?
Dave Milne, Scotland
'91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ

"Kaelanmon" <kaelanr@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:5425eff46298ce35338002bfa2a92c95@localhost.ta lkaboutautos.com...
> My Jeep has a manual trans. and when I release the clutch to engage the
> wheels (at any speed), there's a pretty loud slapping noise -- obviously
> from the engagement of the tires.
>
> I lifted the rear end and noticed I could turn the rear tires 1/4
> revolution in either direction before the axle moved. My father says
> "That's a lot of play." My question is: "is it?" Is this normal for a
> jeep?
>
> Thanks
> K.
>
>
>

 

Did you buy the TJ new so you know that a locker is not installed?
The stock open differential would have about an eighth of an inch slop
at the driveshaft.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Kaelanmon wrote:
>
> My Jeep has a manual trans. and when I release the clutch to engage the
> wheels (at any speed), there's a pretty loud slapping noise -- obviously
> from the engagement of the tires.
>
> I lifted the rear end and noticed I could turn the rear tires 1/4
> revolution in either direction before the axle moved. My father says
> "That's a lot of play." My question is: "is it?" Is this normal for a
> jeep?
>
> Thanks
> K.

 

Did you buy the TJ new so you know that a locker is not installed?
The stock open differential would have about an eighth of an inch slop
at the driveshaft.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Kaelanmon wrote:
>
> My Jeep has a manual trans. and when I release the clutch to engage the
> wheels (at any speed), there's a pretty loud slapping noise -- obviously
> from the engagement of the tires.
>
> I lifted the rear end and noticed I could turn the rear tires 1/4
> revolution in either direction before the axle moved. My father says
> "That's a lot of play." My question is: "is it?" Is this normal for a
> jeep?
>
> Thanks
> K.

 

Did you buy the TJ new so you know that a locker is not installed?
The stock open differential would have about an eighth of an inch slop
at the driveshaft.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Kaelanmon wrote:
>
> My Jeep has a manual trans. and when I release the clutch to engage the
> wheels (at any speed), there's a pretty loud slapping noise -- obviously
> from the engagement of the tires.
>
> I lifted the rear end and noticed I could turn the rear tires 1/4
> revolution in either direction before the axle moved. My father says
> "That's a lot of play." My question is: "is it?" Is this normal for a
> jeep?
>
> Thanks
> K.

 

You should not drive the Jeep until you find the broken part!

That is a serious amount of movement and it means something is broken
big time.

If it is something like an axle u-joint, it (the axle) can fall off, hit
the ground and maybe flip the vehicle over. I had a friend die that
way.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Kaelanmon wrote:
>
> My Jeep has a manual trans. and when I release the clutch to engage the
> wheels (at any speed), there's a pretty loud slapping noise -- obviously
> from the engagement of the tires.
>
> I lifted the rear end and noticed I could turn the rear tires 1/4
> revolution in either direction before the axle moved. My father says
> "That's a lot of play." My question is: "is it?" Is this normal for a
> jeep?
>
> Thanks
> K.

 

You should not drive the Jeep until you find the broken part!

That is a serious amount of movement and it means something is broken
big time.

If it is something like an axle u-joint, it (the axle) can fall off, hit
the ground and maybe flip the vehicle over. I had a friend die that
way.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Kaelanmon wrote:
>
> My Jeep has a manual trans. and when I release the clutch to engage the
> wheels (at any speed), there's a pretty loud slapping noise -- obviously
> from the engagement of the tires.
>
> I lifted the rear end and noticed I could turn the rear tires 1/4
> revolution in either direction before the axle moved. My father says
> "That's a lot of play." My question is: "is it?" Is this normal for a
> jeep?
>
> Thanks
> K.