[Bmoore257]

Just picked up a 98 foreman in great shape. Replaced a wheel bearing that was obviously bad. Now i notice a bad clacking sound up front primarily when turning. I was thinking CV's but the boots are good and I can grab the shafts and they feel pretty tight. What's the best way to determine if it's the CV's? What else could it be if it's not CV's?
Thanks

 

[mrbb]

still could be CV joint, you can disassemble them and have a look and or re grease if nothing else, can also pull whole axle out and inspect splines too!

 

[SamUK]

Noises are always difficult to explain in text, I agree with mrbb though, it sounds like a CV is gone or on its way out.

 

[Bmoore257]

Thanks guys. I agree, it's difficult to describe actual sounds with text. It sounds really bad, though. I guess I'll pull the CV axles off the bike and inspect them.
I'm pretty sure "clacking" is not even a real word, but it was meant to describe a loud or aggressive clicking.

 

[SamUK]

I always consider clacking to be 50/50 of popping and clicking!

 

[XJCountry]

My vote goes toward a bad CV. Even with good boots the grease can harden over time and then the joints aren't getting the proper lubrication. If you are turning left and the sound is worse then it is probably your right CV and vice versa. My foreman 400 has a bad right side CV that I need to get on pretty soon.

 

[LedFTed]

clacking around turns

my 2000es did that for a while. long story short, i got a grease needle, and injected grease through the boot, and my clacking quit.. i stuck the needle as close and in the joints as i could get. its worked so far, for me.
i cant say it will work for you, still, worth a shot..

 

[Bmoore257]

I think I'm just going to replace them both. 20 year old machine. I pulled them both and not sure I can tell what the issue is without putting weight on them. Twisting them by hand, it all feels somewhat normal. Boots are all sealed up so its probably just normal wear.

 

[fishfiles]

It is most likely the cv shaft , but it could be the splines of the front drive shaft pinion coupler , I have stripped it before and it clacks ----- clackers where them balls on strings where you move you hand up and down and the balls clack together ---they sell them on parade routes , if you do it real hard the balls will break and pieces of plastic goes every where

 

[retro]

You might have bad/wrong wheel bearings in it as well. If you replaced any of them with china bearings they probably don't even fit the knuckle bores or the axle shaft diameters. If thats the case, you'll be back in there soon to empty out your wallet.

 

[mrbb]

I think I'm just going to replace them both. 20 year old machine. I pulled them both and not sure I can tell what the issue is without putting weight on them. Twisting them by hand, it all feels somewhat normal. Boots are all sealed up so its probably just normal wear.

you sound like me, when mine were about 17 yrs old, both boots got damaged and not sure how long I ran them that way, looked on EBay, and found whole new axles for cheap, and just replaced both, figured I'd just call it a PM, been working flawless ever since, and if I look at it as a cost per yr deal, its even cheaper to see it that way LOL

so pulled old one's out, stuck new one's in, fast easy fix/peace of mind, new splines to grab on!

 

[Bmoore257]

OK Fellas. I'm at a loss. I replaced both CV axles and both wheel bearings and I'm still getting the noise in the front end when I'm turning. The best way to describe the sound now is a handful of ball bearings rolling around in your hand. I also changed the front gear box fluid.
Any thoughts?

 

[shadetree]

OK Fellas. I'm at a loss. I replaced both CV axles and both wheel bearings and I'm still getting the noise in the front end when I'm turning. The best way to describe the sound now is a handful of ball bearings rolling around in your hand. I also changed the front gear box fluid.
Any thoughts?

tells me your front differential needs to be looked at. pinion gear and ring gear is where I would start. plz keep in mind, the front ring gear will be a little different than the rear ring gear, same concept, but made a little different.

 

[retro]

I'm thinking the driveshaft splines might be stripped off where it attaches to the pinion shaft of the front differential? Unbolt & pull the diff forward to remove the driveshaft for inspection at both ends. If that is OK, then its probably internal to the diff... which means complete teardown time...

EDIT:
Unless your bike has a big lift kit on it?

 

[Bmoore257]

afraid you guys might be right. I'm kind of against a wall on time. I need to get my atv's to my hunt lease in GA for the season. You think I'm OK to keep running the bike for a couple of months? Or am I going to really tear something up by continuing to use it?

I wish I could disengage the front drive and just use it as a 2WD for a while.

 

[retro]

If you take the front driveshaft off you can test ride it again to learn whether those splines are stripped or its the front diff that is damaged. But dont run the bike very far in dirt/mud/water with the driveshaft off. Just test and bring it back. Report back with your findings... maybe we can help you.

 

[Bmoore257]

If you take the front driveshaft off you can test ride it again to learn whether those splines are stripped or its the front diff that is damaged. But dont run the bike very far in dirt/mud/water with the driveshaft off. Just test and bring it back. Report back with your findings... maybe we can help you.

Thanks Retro. I'll let you know what I find.

 

[LedFTed]

You might have bad/wrong wheel bearings in it as well. If you replaced any of them with china bearings they probably don't even fit the knuckle bores or the axle shaft diameters. If thats the case, you'll be back in there soon to empty out your wallet.

wheel bearings do make noise, when they go out

 

[shadetree]

You might have bad/wrong wheel bearings in it as well. If you replaced any of them with china bearings they probably don't even fit the knuckle bores or the axle shaft diameters. If thats the case, you'll be back in there soon to empty out your wallet.

wheel bearings do make noise, when they go out

and brands such as '' all balls '' which is a china brand !, don't last long at all !. i've got a 2011 trx420fpe that had work done on it from a local shop ( not a honda dealership ), and I know they use '' all balls '' !, and the rear end is already making bad sounds..lol.