Center support bearing play?

[shockea]

I've noticed a whining sound similar to the noise made in this thread:
https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/whining-2020-ranger-fx4.38145/#post-907858

Following the advice there, I looked at the center support bearing. There is some play in it, but no noise and the play could simply be the rubber grommet (See the attached video). Asking for the consensus if this is normal, or if I have found the issue.

Another potential candidate is the front driveshaft. There's a barely discernable play in the front drive shaft towards the front differential. I'm not sure if any is acceptable, but it might since I know it has to be telescoping some. If this ends up being the issue, can you replace a U-joint here, or do you have to replace the whole front driveshaft? It seems like its one unit.

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[Stevedbvik1]

I've noticed a whining sound similar to the noise made in this thread:
https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/whining-2020-ranger-fx4.38145/#post-907858

Following the advice there, I looked at the center support bearing. There is some play in it, but no noise and the play could simply be the rubber grommet (See the attached video). Asking for the consensus if this is normal, or if I have found the issue.

Another potential candidate is the front driveshaft. There's a barely discernable play in the front drive shaft towards the front differential. I'm not sure if any is acceptable, but it might since I know it has to be telescoping some. If this ends up being the issue, can you replace a U-joint here, or do you have to replace the whole front driveshaft? It seems like its one unit.

The front driveshaft doesn’t have a normal ujoint. It uses a CV/Rzeppa type connection. They may be serviceable but the driveshaft would have to come out.

 

[shockea]

The front driveshaft doesn’t have a normal ujoint. It uses a CV/Rzeppa type connection. They may be serviceable but the driveshaft would have to come out.

As I contemplate things, I doubt its the front driveshaft. This is all taking place in 2WD, and I would think the front driveshaft is not rotating in 2WD.

For what its worth, the noise cuts in at 23mph and does not really chsnge with RPMs and does not change too noticeably at higher speeds (i.e. 50mph)

 

[Jason B]

Front axle and drive shaft do rotate even in 2WD, it's just not engaged inside the x-fer case. Long gone are the days of lockout hubs.

 

[Cabose-1]

The front driveshaft doesn’t have a normal ujoint. It uses a CV/Rzeppa type connection. They may be serviceable but the driveshaft would have to come out.

I thought the 5g had "regular" u joints. My 2020 and 2022 were all regular u joints. I know my 6g has the zeppa on the rear were it connects to the rear diff, but the part near the tranny is a regular u joint, or all the rest are anyway.

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

I thought the 5g had "regular" u joints. My 2020 and 2022 were all regular u joints. I know my 6g has the zeppa on the rear were it connects to the rear diff, but the part near the tranny is a regular u joint, or all the rest are anyway.

Eli, was your 5g a non-Tremor? @Stevedbvik1 has a Tremor. Maybe it’s a Tremor thing.

 

[Cabose-1]

Yeah they where non tremor. Both of them 20and 22. The 24 and all the others are/were 4x2s, elockers.

 

[Stevedbvik1]

I thought the 5g had "regular" u joints. My 2020 and 2022 were all regular u joints. I know my 6g has the zeppa on the rear were it connects to the rear diff, but the part near the tranny is a regular u joint, or all the rest are anyway.

OP was talking about the front drive shaft on the 4wd’s. They’re Rzeppas on both ends. The 5G Tremors have the Rzeppa at the rear diff also. Regular ujoints at the transmission output and carrier bearing.

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