Front end squeek???

It just started today.....a squeek coming from the front end that coincides with the wheel as it rotates during driving in 2X. While I'm stopped, with the clutch in or out, there is no squeek which makes me think it must be the wheel bearings. Sound about right? How big a job will this be?
Thanks.

 

Check your Ujoints.

 

shackle/bushing/leaf noise?

mine have been noisy for years. intermittent, but always there. no noise when stopped R)

if you've got locking hubs, i don't see that the squeak would be u-joint noise, as the axle shafts shouldn't be turning in 2wd, unless you left the hubs locked.

 

Good points.....I'm in 2WD when I hear the noise and it seems to be in rythem with the turning of the wheels, coming from the front end of the vehicle.

 

I had that sort of thing happen once on my truck. It ended up being a u-joint as was mentioned earlier. I'd check that first. my .02

 

Might be a dust shield touching the back of the rotor (disc brakes) or rust on the lip of the drum contacting the backing plate (drum brakes). May be an easy fix.
A bad wheel bearing usually growls. A low rumbling that increases with speed
The only thing that makes me think it's not a U-joint, is that he's in 2WD. with the hubs in the "free" position the U-joint dosen't rotate with the wheel.

 

Again, good points....it is a high pitched squeek as opposed to a growl. Like a squeek....squeek....squeek. As opposed to a sqqqqueeeeeeeeeekkkkkk that doesn't stop until the vehicle stops.
:?

And I'm new...so how do I check a U-joint?

 

Crawl under the JEEP with it in gear and try to wiggle the driveshaft (like you are trying to turn it, not front to back). If it has much play in it the U-joint is probably bad. I personally have never messed much with open knuckle front ends but would assume the same. Slop is bad.

 

does it go away when you apply the brakes?

 

No, I can still hear the squeek when the brakes are applied....though the frequency of the squeek does vary with speed.