I've got a '98 454 has over 2100 miles on it. Today after I crossed the road I could barely go 2mph without a awful rattle coming from the back some where. I think it might have something to do with the driveshaft. Maybe I was spinning tires when I was off the road and when I hit the road it grabbed traction an messed something up? I don't have clue what the problem is any help would be appreciated.

 

if i had to say i would say it is the rear end barrings or the berings on the driveshaft going in to the rear axel housing

 

Hi Jockdawg,

dvxr is probably correct in that it is either your wheel bearings or your driveshaft bearing.
Hopefully it is nothing inside your differential as that could get pretty expensive in a hurry.

I just had the same symptoms on my '98 Bearcat and it turned out that the driveshaft bearing was shot.
It must have been shot for some time because it allowed the driveshaft too much play, which caused the splines on the rear of the driveshaft and the front of the differential (the coupler) to wear and eventually become stripped. So now I have to replace the driveshaft, coupler and bearing. Hopefully you'll be lucky and only have to replace that bearing and dust seal.

 

Rear driveshaft bearing. Blew one on my 99 500, my uncle's 98 454 has gone through 2 of them. I installed the last one myself. Its a **** poor job of sealing on Arctic Cat's part for those models. Park it until you get it fixed. There is a good chance that you have fragged the housing, but if not it wouldn't be too expensive. Its a pain kind of, but if you have a garage, a floor jack, and a good set of tools, you could actually replace this yourself. All it involves is taking off nuts and bolts and putting them back together basically. That and maybe one snap ring inside the housing. Totally depends on the condition of it. But I'd almost guarantee that is your problem.

 

Thanks for the help I'll probably just take it to a mechanic to fix it.