I have an 07 that started making a noise in the front this week. I originally thought the u-joint in the driveshaft was the culprit but after taking it out and going for a test drive the noise was still there. I checked both hub bearing assemblies, axleshafts and their u-joints, and every nut and bolt I could. I haven't pulled the cover off yet mainly because I don't screw with gears or anything (I realize I know just enough about them to really screw something up), but it is leaking a little bit of fluid out of the passenger side tube. I've only had it wheeling once about a year ago so I know I didn't screw anything up that way. Any thoughts?

 

I forgot to mention that it's a Rubicon front axle

 

Can you describe the noise a little better? A whine, a whir, marbles in a tin can?
Everything in the front can make a noise.
Don't worry about the seepage from your axle tube...providing you're not seeing a puddle of it on your driveway in the morning...a little seepage is nothing to be bothered with at all, just pull the fill plug to ensure your topped up....that being said, if you are low low low, it absolutely could make a god awful noise from gear meshing to bearing failure from inadequate lubrication.

 

A metal sounding clicking noise, maybe like a dull clicking that changes with the speed. I topped off the diff and it wasn't to low. I really thought it was a u-joint but they all seem fine.

 

Dull clicking....hmmm...locker working fine? Is this thing modified?
Check your brakes for foreign objects of bent dust shield?