Hey Guys,

I'm new to the forums as far as a member but I've been reading a lot on here since we got our '06 H3 a few years back. I'm right at 94,000 miles and just took it in for the recall notice for the front hood. When I took it in I had them check on a rattle/clicking noise that was occuring only when the vehicle was moving. They told me that the front driveshaft is making the clicking noise along with a leak from the transfer case. I haven't noticed any fluids on the ground from the transfer case so I'm thinking it's a new/small leak. My two questions are, would I be safe to assume it's the seal that is leaking, an eaiser fix, or do you think it's something worse. Secondly, with the front drive shaft I would like to try replacing that myself. Where could I get the parts, how tough do you think it is. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

I'm not sure how they figured it out. I called back to get a little more information and they said it was the drive shaft cv joint that needed to be replaced and the output seal was leaking. There is a definite clicking type noise while driving. I priced the cost for a new drive shaft cv joint and it is virtually identical to replacing with a refurbished whole drive shaft. My thought is that it's the front output seal is leaking behind the cv joint.

 

Do I need to drain the transfer case prior to replacing the front seal if it's up on a ramp?

 

drtom

I'm not trying to mislead you, but I am referring to the front driveshaft, the part that connects the transfer case to the front differential. There is a cv joint that connects the transfer case to the rear end of the front drive shaft with a u joint connecting to the front differential. I was told it is the cv joint on the front drive shaft. That's all I have to go on. Any suggestions to double check that diagnosis? Also, the leak on the transfer case, will I be able to see build up to verify the leak on the transfer case?

As for your other question, it only clicks while in motion. It doesn't make a difference if you are driving straight or turning, but only while moving, it clicks. I think they may have driven it, in fact I know they drove it from the parking lot into the garage and their notes indicate "clicking noise whenever vehicle moves can hear easily with window down."

The quotes I got are 525+tax to fix the front driveshaft and 580+tax for transfer case leak.

 

no problem, thanks for trying, have a great day

 

No kidding, that's why I bought the service manual today and I'm planning on doing this myself, parts are about $300 total for a $1100 job.

 

Removing & Replacing the front driveshaft (from the t-case to the front diff) is not hard to do. It just takes a little time to remove and replace the parts around it.

The T-case seal...... which one is leaking (trans to t-case/t-case to front driveshaft/T-case to rear driveshaft)? Can you see where it is leaking from or did "they" just tell you it is leaking? I have had many front diff seals leak @ the half-shaft input, never a t-case seal.

 

They just told me there was a transfer case leak. I queried them and they said it was the output seal. I know there's one on the front and one on the back of the transfer case. I can't see a leak although there is some residue on the forward seal, t-case to front driveshaft. I figured as long as I had the driveshaft off I could easily fix it if it's the front seal. Is there an easy way to check those seals for a leak?

 

The only way I know of to detect a leak is to look and see if there is fluid or a wet spot near or at the offending seal.

 

I have 71000 on my adventure and had the propeller shaft 9the one that connects the t-case to the front diff) replaced @40000. It was under warranty. It is clicking again also. I also had the radiator problem, fought to get my money back to no avail.