93 Isuzu with noise in right front wheel

[ebbd]

I have a 93 Isuzu Bighorn (Trooper) 102000kms 5spd manual, 3.1 diesel. Just come back from fishing & had to go in 4wd off road for a short bit, when I changed back to 2wd there is a noise in the right front wheel (drivers side), its like a clicking noise. If you change back into 4wd the noise goes away. I have tried driving for a bit stopping & starting switch back & forth but the noise comes back within 5 mins of being in 2wd. I had this problem after being up ski fields on rough roads a couple of months ago ended up taking it to the garage & they "fixed" it (replaced circlip retainer) but obviously this wasn't the only issue.

Anyone have any ideas, I hate going to the garage with no info as i get treated like a silly female. I don't use the 4wd drive mode very often so maybe the problem never really was fixed. The noise is too loud to drive in 2wd as everyone turns & looks & don't want to do damage by driving in 2wd with the noise or 4wd on the road. cheers

[boritz]

Possibly the free-wheeling hub could stand a little bit of grease .

I had a similar problem in the manual free-wheel hub on my 1997 Trooper.

That was way back during the warranty period when it was still being "maintained" by the dealership and occurred immediately after a major service that supposedly included re-packing the front-wheel bearings and free-wheeling hub (yeh - right! ).

They sheepishly reported that it was "a bit dry - no charge!".

[ebbd]

Thanks,

Took off the hub & plenty of grease BUT there was metal fragments inside which I am guessing is not a good thing. Cleaned it up though & is now noise free in both 2 & 4 wd though for how long I am not sure. I think perhaps the locking mechanism isn't working as it should or maybe need new hubs but at least now have a little bit of idea when I talk to the garage (well not really but better than before). If it was the wheel bearing surely it would make the noise all the time?

Its times like these when you need a mechanic in the family....!

[boritz]

Originally Posted by ebbd

...metal fragments inside...

It would be nice to determine where they came from.

Probably not the bearings, as you say- no noise now.

Doesn't sound as if its critical right now unless you intend 4WDing.

Hope you get it sorted OK.

[bamashooter]

From your description, with the clip having fallen off (common occurrence with auto locking hubs), the splined end of the axle was partially eaten away which created the metal fragments. The noise you heard was the spiled end of the shaft "hitting" against the splines inside the automatic hub. This is caused by the clip no longer preventing the shaft from moving in and out of that area. Hopefully, you cleaned this very well, to include the hub and, regreased the hub. This will probably continue. Most of the time, replacing the auto hubs with a set of manul hubs will fix the probably if enough of the splined area remained intact. If you install a set of Isuzu Aisin manual locking hubs, the clip will be installed in the next groove on the shaft, on the splined section, a bit closer towards the wheel hub, brake, etc. If you choose Warn Premium hubs, it's clip will be installed in the same location as the clip for the automatic hub. Either way, the assembly may or may not need to be shimmed.