Grinding Noise After Agile Off-Road Driveshaft Install on Lifted 2024 Grenadier — Any Ideas?

[salmankali]

Hello everyone,

I have a 2024 INEOS Grenadier that was lifted using the 2.5” Eibach lift kit. I recently had the Heavy Duty Front Driveshaft by Agile Offroad installed as well — both upgrades were done by the dealer.

Since the install, I’ve noticed a loud grinding noise whenever I’m driving at around 55 mph or higher, particularly when I let off the accelerator. The noise disappears once the speed drops below about 53 mph.

Everything feels solid otherwise, but this sound is concerning. Has anyone else experienced this or know what the fix might be? Could it be the driveshaft angle, balance, or something else?

Appreciate any advice — thanks in advance!

 

[Dokatd]

Hello everyone,

I have a 2024 INEOS Grenadier that was lifted using the 2.5” Eibach lift kit. I recently had the Heavy Duty Front Driveshaft by Agile Offroad installed as well — both upgrades were done by the dealer.

Since the install, I’ve noticed a loud grinding noise whenever I’m driving at around 55 mph or higher, particularly when I let off the accelerator. The noise disappears once the speed drops below about 53 mph.

Everything feels solid otherwise, but this sound is concerning. Has anyone else experienced this or know what the fix might be? Could it be the driveshaft angle, balance, or something else?

Appreciate any advice — thanks in advance!

Well, that's kinda just what happens when you run U-joints at those angles. You are far better off with the stock shaft and new Terra Joints.

 

[derek0343]

Hello everyone,

I have a 2024 INEOS Grenadier that was lifted using the 2.5” Eibach lift kit. I recently had the Heavy Duty Front Driveshaft by Agile Offroad installed as well — both upgrades were done by the dealer.

Since the install, I’ve noticed a loud grinding noise whenever I’m driving at around 55 mph or higher, particularly when I let off the accelerator. The noise disappears once the speed drops below about 53 mph.

Everything feels solid otherwise, but this sound is concerning. Has anyone else experienced this or know what the fix might be? Could it be the driveshaft angle, balance, or something else?

Appreciate any advice — thanks in advance!

That's what it is when we have this huge pinion angle. John runs this setup in entire Baja race this year, it should be fine at the moment.

 

[C-Mack]

Unfortunately that’s the vibration and noise you get by running single cardan style driveshafts for a driveline designed with complex and compound diff(s) and transfer case angles.

They are indeed stronger for slow off-road use and can reduce failures on the trail but they are going to vibrated and make a bit of noise in the high speed regime which will wear them out faster especially if that’s the bulk of the driving you’ll be doing.

So it’s a pick your poison situation where you stick with stock for smoother operation and watch for CV-boot failure or use the more robust driveshafts and put up with the harshness. On some vehicles the noise/vibration will be more or less as there are a lot of variables at play but I wouldn’t expect them to ever run as smooth as stock.

Could suppliers be bit more up front about possible running issues and compromises like this so buyers know what they are committing to?

 

[anand]

Some noise and vibration are to be expected at highway speeds, especially when the drivetrain is unloaded (deceleration).

Was the driveshaft something you picked out of something Mossy suggested?

 

[Dokatd]

Unfortunately that’s the vibration and noise you get by running single cardan style driveshafts for a driveline designed with complex and compound diff(s) and transfer case angles.

They are indeed stronger for slow off-road use and can reduce failures on the trail but they are going to vibrated and make a bit of noise in the high speed regime which will wear them out faster especially if that’s the bulk of the driving you’ll be doing.

So it’s a pick your poison situation where you stick with stock for smoother operation and watch for CV-boot failure or use the more robust driveshafts and put up with the harshness. On some vehicles the noise/vibration will be more or less as there are a lot of variables at play but I wouldn’t expect them to ever run as smooth as stock.

Could suppliers be bit more up front about possible running issues and compromises like this so buyers know what they are committing to?

With this new world of fast fashion off-road we're not likely to get those disclaimers. These Van companies jumping head long into real off-road vehicles are just asking for trouble. I certainly wish them the best and I have bought from both Owl and Agile. But it pays to slow down the process a bit and do a bit more R&D.

 

[Zimm]

Who (with experience) didn’t see this coming. (Read other threads)

Anyone know what an unwarranted tcase for these runs? I figured we’d find out when those 3-2 downshifts start to claim them after 80k miles, but it appears those cheap driveshafts are likely gonna tell us sooner than expected.

 

[salmankali]

Some noise and vibration are to be expected at highway speeds, especially when the drivetrain is unloaded (deceleration).

Was the driveshaft something you picked out of something Mossy suggested?

 

[salmankali]

I chose to go with the heavy-duty ones that Agile offered. I'm not worried about the humming or vibrating sounds; it's the super loud grinding sound that scares me. I made a video of the drive shafts, which shows the grinding. Link: https://vid.us/sns6ej

 

[Logsplitter]

I chose to go with the heavy-duty ones that Agile offered. I'm not worried about the humming or vibrating sounds; it's the super loud grinding sound that scares me. I made a video of the drive shafts, which shows the grinding. Link: https://vid.us/sns6ej

Bugger that . I’d go back to stock if I was you.

 

[Dokatd]

I chose to go with the heavy-duty ones that Agile offered. I'm not worried about the humming or vibrating sounds; it's the super loud grinding sound that scares me. I made a video of the drive shafts, which shows the grinding. Link: https://vid.us/sns6ej

That 100% is due to running U-joints at excessive angles. You can even see that shaft is not happy in your video. Jeeps get away with this because they are part time. We are full time, the front shaft won't tolerate that for long. And your pinion or T-case output may suffer as well. It's your ball of wax though so have fun.

 

[Dokatd]

Damn, I watch it again on a bigger screen. You need to ask for a refund buddy. And get a stock shaft back on there until a real solution is found.

 

[Zimm]

That 100% is due to running U-joints at excessive angles. You can even see that shaft is not happy in your video. Jeeps get away with this because they are part time. We are full time, the front shaft won't tolerate that for long. And your pinion or T-case output may suffer as well. It's your ball of wax though so have fun.

I’ve been beating around the bush, but this shaft is fucking stupid on this truck. It’ll be the case output that gives too, btw.

And what makes it heavy duty??? Define heavy duty and then tell me why this is heavy duty.

 

[Zimm]

Damn, I watch it again on a bigger screen. You need to ask for a refund buddy. And get a stock shaft back on there until a real solution is found.

At this point may as well just wait to see what the grinding is and send AO the tab. If something has been damaged, it’s not gonna stop now. Dealers may want to get out of the “untested aftermarket mechanical” business, and stick to roof racks.

 

[Dokatd]

At this point may as well just wait to see what the grinding is and send AO the tab. If something has been damaged, it’s not gonna stop now. Dealers may want to get out of the “untested aftermarket mechanical” business, and stick to roof racks.

Meh, the "grinding" is almost certainly a harmonic. Maybe chatter in the T-case differential. Regardless, it's not likely a big deal yet and if it goes silent when the stock shaft is put back in then it's likely ok. Many if not most Defender 90's produced a very similar noise when lifted. It's often when coasting in some fashion.

But yes, I agree that some of these Van outfitters need to be cautious what they sell. It's one thing to cobble a steering stabilizer in the early days. But we are getting past that point now. They need to stick to handles and cargo shelf kits until they know what they are doing.

 

[MooseJaw]

With this new world of fast fashion off-road we're not likely to get those disclaimers. These Van companies jumping head long into real off-road vehicles are just asking for trouble. I certainly wish them the best and I have bought from both Owl and Agile. But it pays to slow down the process a bit and do a bit more R&D.

Agile does mention this issue in their site. It should be enough for a buyer to do some research as there is plenty written on this topic here and elsewhere. as of now, for lifted Grennies we have a choice: Rzeppa joints on original shafts with a spare ready to go when the boots split, or a cardan joint that will vibrate under certain conditions, typically high speed driving. I went with the Rzeppa.

 

[parb]

I'm going with a rzeppa too. My buddy has the ao shaft and indeed it's noisy when going off the gas on the highway.
He is a rock hound though so that is his jam. He is pretty happy with it.

 

[Zimm]

Agile does mention this issue in their site. It should be enough for a buyer to do some research as there is plenty written on this topic here and elsewhere. as of now, for lifted Grennies we have a choice: Rzeppa joints on original shafts with a spare ready to go when the boots split, or a cardan joint that will vibrate under certain conditions, typically high speed driving. I went with the Rzeppa.

It should be labeled as offroad use only. Yea, lots of us put some rather short high angle shafts on our fj40's in the day, but that was a group of guys that had an inkling, and those were weekend wheelers, not dd's or touring trucks with loans and used primarily as the family car. I think the unknowing fella that want's a cool looking overlander to put in his office parking lot, makes product safety/quality assumptions based on the general reliability of most mechanical add on's these days, and letting people think theres a possiblity this is an in kind replacement for a factory shaft is pushing it. Be very clear this is an off road low speed solution only, and any such thoughts are stupid.

 

[Dokatd]

Just for full clarity, the stock shaft is a Rezeppa shaft. I'm not sure if anyone is confusing this, but I can see how a person new to this world might confuse it based on how people post about it here.

 

[parb]

I don't know if I fully agree with that.
Sure the shaft hasn't ran for 100 000 miles yet so we don't truly know longevity.
But it has been fine for tens of thousands of miles on highways and in high speed desert. My buddy has gone up and down California with it several times. He is heading to Moab for the Grenadier October fest on Wednesday with it. That's a thousand miles on highway.

His rzeppa boot failed which is what made him change. But he is doing extreme angles and articulation on his Grenadier, I suspect it stresses the boot a lot
For him the ai shaft seems to work well.

I think it's too soon to call it out like that.