4wd problem

[JPrince]

I was driving through some soft ground that was a little muddy and so for the first time since I've had my xpedition, I put it in 4wd. As soon as I did, I heard and felt a growling sound.
As soon as I took it out of 4wd, the sound and feeling went away. I turned it back on and it came right back. After I got out on some hard ground I tried it again and it was barely noticeable.
It was still there but not nearly as bad.
Has anyone else had this issue?

 

[JarHead]

My 4wd didnt seem to make any noise or feel different but thats just on some old jeep trails.... shes in pieces from a turn signal install gone awry but will find some mud when I get er back together and see if any different and let u know!

 

[JTBarlow]

I can definitely feel the “growling” feel when I’m running 4WD but it’s not extreme or noisy.

 

[tdeperte]

I believe the four wheel only kicks in and engages the front when it senses rear wheel spin and this engagement happens in the transmission. The front half shafts and driveshaft are always moving even in 2wd.

 

[TheLanes]

I have a slight vibration when the four-wheel drive in engaged, it seems that it's not in sync with the rear. I've had several RZRs and haven't had this vibration in the steering when its engaged.

Thanks,

2024 ADV 5

 

[B B]

Man it just gets better. Yes, I just started experiencing this a couple days after getting my machine back from having the front differential replaced. I first heard it when I engaged the four wheel drive as I was going through some mud. I headed for solid ground to confirm I was hearing what I thought I was hearing and it was confirmed. Brought it home and did the same in my driveway and could clearly hear it and feel slight vibration in the steering wheel. Both the noise and the vibrating in the steering wheel seem to be more easily noticeable in high gear on hard surface, although I also hear it in low, and no it's not the tires. I've tested it every which way possible on all different terrain and it's there. It really F's with your head as it's sometimes very noticeable and others not so much. I've yet to bring it to the attention of the dealership as I'm fed up with dealing with this machine and searching for the patience to deal with yet another issue.

"Growling" is good way of describing it as it's very close to a grinding noise, but not quite that extreme. I was close to starting this same thread, but held off because ever since it started I brought the machine out and did the same thing in my driveway hoping it was just me losing my mind. The definition of "insane" comes to mind with that last statement.

 

[attakracer]

Man it just gets better. Yes, I just started experiencing this a couple days after getting my machine back from having the front differential replaced. I first heard it when I engaged the four wheel drive as I was going through some mud. I headed for solid ground to confirm I was hearing what I thought I was hearing and it was confirmed. Brought it home and did the same in my driveway and could clearly hear it and feel slight vibration in the steering wheel. Both the noise and the vibrating in the steering wheel seem to be more easily noticeable in high gear on hard surface, although I also hear it in low, and no it's not the tires. I've tested it every which way possible on all different terrain and it's there. It really F's with your head as it's sometimes very noticeable and others not so much. I've yet to bring it to the attention of the dealership as I'm fed up with dealing with this machine and searching for the patience to deal with yet another issue.

What other problems have you had with it ?? And how many miles you got on it ?

 

[B B]

The infamous "front end clunk" which it's been to the dealer twice to try and figure out. The first attempt they found a bolt backing out on the steering rack. That didn't fix it. Second attempt they replaced front diff. That didn't fix it either. Other than stupid little stuff like the windshield leaking, door seals falling off and paint chipping off of not one, but two heat shields, the "front end clunk" and now the growling noise are what's raising my blood pressure.

As for miles I'm not even sure, but it's not many. I'll have to check tomorrow.

 

[JTBarlow]

My suspicion on the front end clunking problems is that it could be the A-arm bushings. On the 2 Xpeditions I’ve had in my shop, that had the bad clunking noises, both made the noise by just bouncing the suspension. Neither owner asked for it to be looked into, so I can’t confirm the suspicion. My machine hasn’t had that particular problem.

My guess would be bad tolerances or a need for lubrication.

 

[B B]

And how many miles you got on it ?

154

 

[attakracer]

154

holy shit !! and its jacked up already ??????? That don't sound good. I got about 400 & no noise from the front end.......... Yet !!!!!

 

[tarkenton09]

The infamous "front end clunk" which it's been to the dealer twice to try and figure out. The first attempt they found a bolt backing out on the steering rack. That didn't fix it. Second attempt they replaced front diff. That didn't fix it either. Other than stupid little stuff like the windshield leaking, door seals falling off and paint chipping off of not one, but two heat shields, the "front end clunk" and now the growling noise are what's raising my blood pressure.

As for miles I'm not even sure, but it's not many. I'll have to check tomorrow.

So you’re saying the clunk is coming from a heat shield?!!!!!??? I would be super interested to hear which one and try and asses myself. Again, it’s not terrible what I hear but it is very annoying. I also noticed the front end parts don’t have lube points. Even on HCR long travel like my can am did. This seems foreign to me.

 

[B B]

So you’re saying the clunk is coming from a heat shield?!!!!!???

No, two different issues. One has nothing to do with the other.

 

[fasted54]

The clunk I’m hearing is intermittent and up front. I was asking a local SXS shop here in Utah and they said it could be the shocks not having the correct pressure in them. (Cavitation)Doing more research on line I found that these shocks are terrible for not holding the nitrogen pressure. Also Polaris does not really check them in the factory. I have ordered larger reservoir caps with schrader valves. I also have a constant tapping sound. Only happens when moving and in any drive setting. I have greased the front shaft once. Might just be front diff noise. Not sure right now.

 

[tdeperte]

That front shaft must be kept well greased or you will get a clunking noise.

 

[johndeerefarmer]

The clunk I’m hearing is intermittent and up front. I was asking a local SXS shop here in Utah and they said it could be the shocks not having the correct pressure in them. (Cavitation)Doing more research on line I found that these shocks are terrible for not holding the nitrogen pressure. Also Polaris does not really check them in the factory. I have ordered larger reservoir caps with schrader valves. I also have a constant tapping sound. Only happens when moving and in any drive setting. I have greased the front shaft once. Might just be front diff noise. Not sure right now.

Mine had the clunk when I would crawl over rocks. Dealership couldn't figure it out. They put a sound recorder on the machine with mic in different locations and found the steering rack was bad. They replaced it in Feb and we have had three rides since then in Colorado and no clunk. It was bad and annoying before. You could feel it all over the machine and on both sides.

 

[JTBarlow]

The shocks on these Xpeditions have been horribly off on nitrogen pressures. I’ve done 8 or so sets of shocks, where I remove the nitrogen reservoir cap, drill them out and install Schrader valves. Previous shocks have had a self sealing rubber pellet so you could check and adjust nitrogen with a needle setup. These don’t have that, so I haven’t been able to check what actual pressures are before working on them. But the amount of nitrogen released when I’ve removed the screw in the cap has varied significantly. Some hardly releasing any. Getting the nitrogen pressure set properly seriously improves the ride, if nothing else.

For the tapping sound, there’s several possibilities. Being that it’s when driving, one likely culprit is the drive shaft. Issues I’ve seen on the Xpeditions I’ve worked on are; the safety loop being installed backwards over the drive shaft, loos yoke bolts on the front diff and/or transmission output shaft, and in one case, a bent front driveline. These one with the bent driveline hadn’t even been driven off road yet and only had 46 miles on it, so it came from the factory that way.
There’s definitely other possibilities, but I’d start there.

 

[Charlie]

Just purchase a 2024 xpedition 5 northstar. It has 500km and today I needed 4wd. It seems to have what I would call a grinding feel and noise. My 2021 ranger was very smooth and quite in 4wd. Wondering if this is a problem or is it normal. Fluids are fine and functionality is fine.

 

[B B]

Possibly front drive shaft. If you have it replaced it will do it again.

 

[tdeperte]

You do have to keep that front driveshaft greased. Very easy to do.