prairie 400 4x4

[bighoss]

i have like a popping sound comeing from the rear axle on the side were the brake drum is i changed the bearing and oil seal so i know it aint that it hard to discribe were it is coming from its seems louder when u put your head closer to the rim and not so loud if you put your head close to the drum and body have any ideas

its does it when ever you turn and it only coming from the side where the drum is

Edited June 9, 2013 by bighoss

[skidooer_3]

This is a 4 x 4 and it seems like the sound is travelling. It may be in the rear end and the gears in there may have some wear or the axle bearing in the rear end may be getting bad. The noise would be more relevant when making a turn.

[bighoss]

gears are good and i just changed the bearing and rite after i changed it it did not do it it started agen after bout 30 min riding

[skidooer_3]

what year is this prairie 400? Does it have a straight axle or independent suspension? If its independent suspension I have seen this before when the cv joints lose grease and therefore the balls in the cv joint lose their roundness and therefore gives the symptom of jumping a bit when turning. New cv joints will clear that issue for you if that's what you have.

[bighoss]

its a solid axle

[skidooer_3]

ok, then. If its a solid axle that kinda shoots the cv joint issue down. Therefore, the only other issue could be the swing arm bearing. They may have a little play. If they are good then the issue has to be in the rear end. Gears may look good but the tolerances may be worn too big. Too much movement between the gears. I say this because there is only a straight axle, a gear box and two wheels hubs and your shock. Again, double check the gear tolerance or check the swing arm bearing. Any play found replace them.

[bighoss]

so could the swing arm bearings make that ticking and popping sound and make it sound like its coming from the side were the drum is and it will make that sound if you push it to with the wheels turned it dont have to be driving to get the sound

[bighoss]

if i have the rear jacked up and push it it dont make the sound i just tryed to wiggle the swing arm and i dont feel no play do you have to take it it off to check the bearing or how can you do it with it on i t

[skidooer_3]

I have been repairing atvs now for over 20 years and You know I have heard customers of mine have the same complaint. Just as prevalent when pushed over the floor with the wheels turned as it is when driving it. I have seen this many times with the Honda 4 wheelers and I have seen it with the Kawasaki 4 wheelers both models have straight rear end axles and believe it or not the sound is coming from a worn cv joint in the front end.

I have replaced the front cv joints and the sound was gone. I have also removed the cv joints and checked the ball bearings. You will find they are indeed worn.

[skidooer_3]

The cv balls bearing will not be perfectly round they will have small flat spots on them yet they still shine.

[bighoss]

ok when i got it i ran the vin and it had a recall for the drive belt and steering knuckes so they replaced thouse so how do i check to see if it is the front cv axles are bad or worn

[bighoss]

if they were bad should have the dealer told me about it when i took it for the recall sence they had them out and if it was them would it make that sound when the back is jacked up or no

[skidooer_3]

If you have the rear end jacked up off the floor and you don't hear it, then that pretty much confirms my suspections about the cv joints. To check the swing arm bearings put the bike back on all fours and just lift the each side one at a time and youll feel some play when you take the strain on the bike. Even better have a friend lift the bike for you while you look at it.

[skidooer_3]

Yes there was a recall on that bike, but the parts you had replaced are not the parts im talking about. That part holds a double ball bearing. The axles run into the cv joint which is closed in with a bellow rubber boot and that's full of grease. That's the part im talking about.

[skidooer_3]

If you can pick the bike of the floor all 4 wheels. Then turn the front wheels all the way and while turning them you should be able to slightly feel some resistance such as a knotchy feel. I cant really explain it to you other than the fact is the wheels don't turn smoothly. Don't run the bike while doing this. Unless you have full control over the torque backlash youll get when throttling it.

[bighoss]

ok i will check that tomorrow one more thing how tight should the 2 nuts that hold the drum on be

[skidooer_3]

im not sure of the torques on those nuts but the answer should be easy to get. I do have a service manual that will tell me. When i get a chance ill look them up.

[bighoss]

ok i got a manuel to but i cant find were how tight they should be i took then off agen and put them back on but not as tight and it not popping any more when i push it but will have to check every thing agen tomorrow

[bighoss]

ok i just tryed turning the wheel all the way to eather side and pushing it its hard to push but it is also all time 4x4 and now it doing it agen i just rode it for a sec and it is def a ticking sound it agervating trying to fig out what it is i guess if i cant fig out what it is i will just ride it till it brakes and then i will know what it is lol

Edited June 9, 2013 by bighoss

[skidooer_3]

If its has all 4 wheels on the floor yes it will be a little hard to push. Lift the 4 wheels completely of the floor turn all the way to the left or the right it doesn't matter and spin the two front wheels they should feel like notchy when spinned. This is the cv joint giving you the problem with the clicking sound. The rim nuts torque at 38 foot pound and the front axle nut with the split pin torques at 145 food pound and the rear nut torques at 195 foot pounds. Hope this helps.

[bighoss]

yes that helps but what does the 2 big nuts torque at they are the 2 that hold the brake drum on

[skidooer_3]

Tighten the inner nut to 95 foot pounds and the outer lock nut to 65 foot pounds. That should be sufficient.

[bighoss]

did that checked swing arm bearing and checked front cv axles all ok but still have the ticking

[skidooer_3]

Well if your sure its not the cv joints or the swing arms I have to say that kinda puzzles me. However, I have runned out of suggestions. Without being able to see or hear it for myself I have no idea where to tell you to look next. Did you have all four wheels of the floor when you did the cv test?

[bighoss]

i did it with them on the floor and up in the air i got the hole rear end out of it got a bearing and a oil seal that will be here tomorrow so we shale see

[bighoss]

well i changed all the rear end bearings and oil seals on the axle and still have the clicking i guess i will just ride it till it brakes then i will know what it is

[skidooer_3]

I still say its the cv joints themselves not the cv axle.

Hope you find your problem.

[bighoss]

its the backlash from it sitting it sat for over 6 years