Knock in rear with Dana 44

[zzman930]

2018 Unlimited Sport S with the Dana 44 LSD here with this very same issue. I first noticed it the morning after putting on my new 285/75/R17 tires. I can reliably reproduce the sound when coasting between 15-10MPH, and it seems to match the rotation of the driveshaft. This is really bumming me out as I have a trip planned this Wednesday and I won't be able to get it into the dealership before then.

I'm going to put my old tires on to see if the sound is still there. My first thought was that I had a bad tire, but I've checked 4 out of 5 them and the sound is still there.

Hey I had the exact same problem the night after putting on my 33s. So I did the same thing as you and put my old smaller tires on. The noise will still be there but it won’t be as aggressive. My dealer brought it in and replicated it but couldn’t pinpoint the exact location and needed to order chassis ears. So while I was waiting on chassis ears to come in he said that it shouldn’t be a safety concern so I could drive it until the ears came in. They got the ears in today and I brought it in. They disconnected the rear drive shaft and the noise went away so they are ordering a new driveshaft. They said it might not be the fix but it’s a place to start for them and they will update me once they install the new driveshaft

Sponsored

 

[D60]

Well friends it seems to be fixed. Parts finally arrived, they started Thursday morning and returned it back Friday morning early am. It is definitely gone, I just hope that it never returns. If anyone on the thread is from the Okanagan in BC and is looking for a dealership that knows what they are doing....PM me and I'll send you the dealership, tech, and advisor that have now fixed two JLU Jeep's with this clunking noise. Attached is a copy of the work order details. Good luck everyone, it was a long journey (14months) but I'm very happy now.

So it's only decent to give 'em the benefit of the doubt and ASSume they don't list everything they do but I hope he ran a pattern. Just bolting up a ring gear to a new carrier and slapping it in is sorta the opposite of best practice or SOP

Also -- and I'm really NOT trying to rain on your parade -- I'm doubting they replaced anything with any updated parts, so the odds of it reoccurring are considerable.

Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is ________

I really am glad you got it fixed and I'm glad you're happy. And I hope it lasts for the next 350k miles (or whatever that'd be with square wheels and kilometers)

...but my mechanical mind combined with my skeptical mind has me scratching my head....

 

[D60]

Also I hope Dana and/or FCA is offering dealers a $500 bounty for these old carriers. Rather than allowing them to go to the scrap bin they should be studying them to figure out WTH is causing failure, all the while feeling extreme embarrassment that they couldn't build a reliable LSD - something that has been accomplished successfully for the past....70? years

Like that guy who was worth a million bucks, "we have the technology"

 

[moebigslee]

So I have some info from a Dana rep. I live in the Detroit area and we have a new off road park opening next year. Yesterday there was a one time special event (Detroit 4fest) held at the new park. Anyway, jeep, dana and other major companies had booths there. I went to the dana booth and asked if they were familiar with the M220 LSD issues. They guys ask what issues? I explained this thread and how I needed a new rear axle at 3,000 miles and how my new axle already has black oil in it and I'm planning on my third axle. I told him between talking with the dealer and reading info on this thread there is either an issue with the LSD wearing and causing bearing failure(mainly pinon bearing) or bearing failure causing LSD failure. I asked are there going to be new/updated parts available? The guy got a small smile on his face and said I'm sorry that happened to you. He then said he was aware of the issue. He said the problem is caused by premature/excessive wear of the LSD clutch plates. He said the excessive wear causes tip loading of the spider gears and then they fail. The failed gears then send crap into the axle that kills the bearings. He said there are upgraded clutch plates coming but there won't be released until November. I wish I had better news but I got a rep from dana to admit there is an issue, explain the cause, and tell me better parts to resolve the issue are coming. I call that a win?!! He did say if I got another new axle and bought the parts to make it an open diff I would never have a problem He also said I could just get the new upgraded clutch plates, let them break in, and I would also have an open diff!

 

[Moto_21]

So I have some info from a Dana rep. I live in the Detroit area and we have a new off road park opening next year. Yesterday there was a one time special event (Detroit 4fest) held at the new park. Anyway, jeep, dana and other major companies had booths there. I went to the dana booth and asked if they were familiar with the M220 LSD issues. They guys ask what issues? I explained this thread and how I needed a new rear axle at 3,000 miles and how my new axle already has black oil in it and I'm planning on my third axle. I told him between talking with the dealer and reading info on this thread there is either an issue with the LSD wearing and causing bearing failure(mainly pinon bearing) or bearing failure causing LSD failure. I asked are there going to be new/updated parts available? The guy got a small smile on his face and said I'm sorry that happened to you. He then said he was aware of the issue. He said the problem is caused by premature/excessive wear of the LSD clutch plates. He said the excessive wear causes tip loading of the spider gears and then they fail. The failed gears then send crap into the axle that kills the bearings. He said there are upgraded clutch plates coming but there won't be released until November. I wish I had better news but I got a rep from dana to admit there is an issue, explain the cause, and tell me better parts to resolve the issue are coming. I call that a win?!! He did say if I got another new axle and bought the parts to make it an open diff I would never have a problem He also said I could just get the new upgraded clutch plates, let them break in, and I would also have an open diff!

Good to know. And glad they admit that. Figured that much though. My locker got rid of the knocking.

 

[D60]

@moebigslee, nice to see some solid tech that sounds credible/plausible (not YOU, but the mechanical explanation)

THANK YOU!

Still, they should be embarrassed, clutch plates and friction materials is not new science.

BUT glad to hear they've hopefully identified the problem and a fix is in the works

 

[Arrowhead]

Thanks for the update. I think this is good news, we shall see. I am a little confused about your last sentence though.

He also said I could just get the new upgraded clutch plates, let them break in, and I would also have an open diff!

 

[D60]

Thanks for the update. I think this is good news, we shall see. I am a little confused about your last sentence though.

Sounds to me like the rep might be admitting that most limited slips are limited grips and don't do much, and what little they do do they don't do for long.

Most OEM limited grips just act like an open diff in short order once the clutch packs wear much.

 

[jholmesjr]

I have a 2018 jl sport with the same rotational thumping at low speeds. They said they could not duplicate the noise. I will be seeing a dealer again tomorrow and have already sent a pm to @JeepCares. Wanted to get another incident logged on the thread. Thx

 

[JeepCares]

I have a 2018 jl sport with the same rotational thumping at low speeds. They said they could not duplicate the noise. I will be seeing a dealer again tomorrow and have already sent a pm to @JeepCares. Wanted to get another incident logged on the thread. Thx

Hi Jimmy,
Thank you for looping us in! I have answered your PM and will continue assisting you from there.
Alex
Jeep Social Care Specialist

 

[CanAmMick]

Well you can add me to the list of people having some type of rotational knocking. We have 11949 miles on our 18 Sahara JL Jeep. Friday while driving in town I let off the gas and noticed a rotational knocking. Actually at first, we thought there was something stuck in one of the tires. Pulled over and checked all the tires, but couldn’t find anything wrong. Took off again and everything was normal. Later in the day it did exactly the same thing when I slowed down for a red light. It reminds me of having something stuck in a tire, and I can’t really tell if it’s coming from the front end or the rear end. And, when it does it it’s not something that last very long.

Drove it all day Saturday without any issues. Sunday we went up in the mountains and it happened twice. Only happens when I let off the gas between 15 & 40 and even then it may not do it again all day. Drove my Jeep probably 60-70 miles today and it didn’t do it till I was almost home.

This is not something that I’m going to be looking forward to dealing with my dealership on. Sounds like it may be one of those “we can’t reproduce the issue”, and that’s really going to get old rather quickly. Looks like I’ll have to get in touch with our dealership later this week to see what they can figure out.

Last week we finally got our Jeep in for the knock in the rear ended. The Jeep dealership in Sheridan Wyoming called today. They told my wife that they are changing the complete driveline on our Jeep! Not really sure what that entails, but glad to know it’s going to be fixed. I asked my wife for more details but she said that’s exactly what she was told. Looks like it will be awhile before the parts will come in. They are also going to be replacing the front suspension steering damper since it’s already in the shop.

I’ll post pictures of the repairs after I get my Jeep back hopefully in a week or two.

Also, a big THANKS goes to @JeepCares for their assistance! Really appreciate your help.

 

[D60]

"Driveline" suggests driveshaft but I'm guessing they're instead either replacing your entire rear axle housing or the contents of (ie shafts, carrier, spider/side gears, carrier bearings etc)

Let us know when you figure it out

Actually I'd be on the phone getting clarification and seeing if they'd just put an open carrier in there, but I doubt warranty knows how to substitute parts, even if it is a technical "downgrade" that you'd be requesting.

NOW, if they're truly replacing your driveshaft, I'd be curious to know (and surprised if) that actually fixes your problem

 

[JeepCares]

Last week we finally got our Jeep in for the knock in the rear ended. The Jeep dealership in Sheridan Wyoming called today. They told my wife that they are changing the complete driveline on our Jeep! Not really sure what that entails, but glad to know it’s going to be fixed. I asked my wife for more details but she said that’s exactly what she was told. Looks like it will be awhile before the parts will come in. They are also going to be replacing the front suspension steering damper since it’s already in the shop.

I’ll post pictures of the repairs after I get my Jeep back hopefully in a week or two.

Also, a big THANKS goes to @JeepCares for their assistance! Really appreciate your help.

Thank you for following up to share this update, Mick! I'm thrilled to hear that your dealer was able to determine the appropriate repair plan for your concerns. Please be sure to keep us updated once you have your Wrangler back, and if we can be of any additional assistance our team is just a PM away!

Mark
Jeep Social Care Specialist

 

[luna4x4]

I have an update regarding my situation. A buddy and I swapped tires and I was still able to hear the knocking coming from the rear. This eliminates my tires from being the root of the sound. I am going to talk to dealership next and get my Jeep inspected.

 

[JeepCares]

I have an update regarding my situation. A buddy and I swapped tires and I was still able to hear the knocking coming from the rear. This eliminates my tires from being the root of the sound. I am going to talk to dealership next and get my Jeep inspected.

Hi Ryan,

If it would be of interest, I would be more than happy to have this concern formally documented and connect you with a case specialist for an additional layer of assistance while your Wrangler is in service. Please follow up with me via PM to get the process started, hope to hear from you soon!

Mark
Jeep Social Care Specialist

Sponsored