Notice: Do not attempt to operate the vehicle without supporting the lower control arm. When the wheel drive shaft CV joints are at a high angle, extra vibrations can occur and may damage the seals and the joints.

Any gear-driven unit produces a certain amount of noise that is normal and cannot be eliminated by conventional repairs or adjustments. Slight noise that is heard only at a certain speed or under unusual or remote conditions is acceptable. For example, a noise that tends to reach a peak at speeds from 60 to 100 km/h (40 to 60 mph) depending on road conditions, load conditions, gear ratio, or tire size does not indicate trouble in the axle assembly.

When an axle is suspected of being noisy, check to determine whether the noise originates in the tires, road surface, wheel bearings, engine, transmission, propeller shaft, or axle assembly. Raise the tire pressure to eliminate tire noise (although this will not silence the tread noise of mud and snow tires). Listening for the noise at varying speeds and road surfaces, on drive, float, and coast conditions will help to locate the source of the noise.