My front axle on an '88 cherokee is making some weird noises. It is a thunking sqeaky noise that happens when you give it throttle and turn right. It doesn't do it all the time. I checked the wheel bearings, rearend, transfercase...etc and no chips of metal in the oil. My question is can the coupler on the front axle shaft malfunction to where it locks the right axle in making it make noise? You can feel the noise in a vibration throughout the jeep, but it sounds like its coming from the front axle. Anyone ever have problems with the coupler????

Check your front axle u-joints. If they're still original, I'll bet they're dry.

Usually, the vacuum motor will fail one way or the other, locking it in, or letting it freewheel. If it locks it in, it'll be just like the later models without the vacuum actuator.

ChiXJeff

you may not even have u-joints the ball joints were an option.

If you shift motor is Shot ther are two good fixes but they depend on your tire size, if your runnign 33s or less id lincoln lock, "weld" your carrier then buy the posilock cable controled shift motor, for liek $298, This will give you a fully locked front axle with a cable controled disconnect. This will cause your drive shaft to spin all the time thought.

If you looking to go bigger then 33s on the d30 Id suggest going to the one piece shaft conversion, it eliminates the shift motor and will act like its always engauged, your shaft will spin all the time. The new shafts will come with NEW U-joints the 297X joints same as a d44, your current joints are the 260X joints, If your joints are craped put in the 297x joints. replace the axle seals when you replace the shafts. The cost is around $300 for the stronger one piece shafts. That is what I have till I replace the axle. not locked and with the new shafts It should hold up to alot. Not locked is no FUN.

This will get you started.

I had something similar to that I thought it was my u-joints but it turned out to be the bracket that the track bar bolts onto the uniboy at was loose. Tighten it back up and problem solved.