I have a '11 rzr xp 900 that I am having trouble chasing down a squeaking noise. It sounds like it is coming from the right front area. It is not a suspenion squeak, it is a rotating squeak. I did have a bent axle that I thought was the problem and I replaced the axle shaft and reused the cv joints. Still squeaked. I pulled my brake caliper apart and lubed it all up to make sure it was not sticking. Still squeaked. I checked my wheel bearings and noticed I had quite a bit of play so I was thinking that since I can turn my wheels up off the ground with no noise that under a load the bearing would camber my wheel hub in enough to let the brake caliper drag on the rotor. I changed my wheel bearings and put brake quiet on my pads. No slop in the wheels now. Still the same squeak. I sprayed down the front U joint with penetrating oil.... Still the same squeak. It doesnt always squeak, it does most of the time but will come and go and it doesnt change the noise when I apply the brakes until I come to a complete stop so I dont think it has anything to do with my brakes at this point. Sorry for the long read I just wanted to give as much info as possible and get this fixed before I go crazy. Could a cv joint be squeaking like that or should I look elsewhere?

 

Check wheel bearings

 

I replaced the wheel bearings last night with new OEM bearings. No more play in the wheel but squeak did not go away. I talked with a guy today and I remember when I changed the axle shaft that one of the ball bearings fell out of the cv joint. It was rotated to the extreme so I thought it was just open enough to let it fall out and I cleaned it off greased her back up and put it back in. He told me that they should never come out like that.

 

The guy you talked to is right. A ball bearing should never fall out of the cv joint with the shaft inserted even if turned to lock to lock. Sounds like the cv joint channels and cage are worn too far. May or may not not be the squeak you're hunting for though. I've found in most cases when people just change out a shaft or just one cv joint,the other cv usually acts up quickly and ends up costing more than just breaking down and buy a complete drive shaft. Plus where did you get just a shaft? Doesn't show one on this site or Polaris Pure parts oem parts list or is it an after market drive shaft assembly?Dirt Cheap Yamaha, Honda, Arctic Cat & Polaris OEM Parts & Accessories – Cycle Parts Warehouse

 

It is a used OEM shaft off a parted out rzr. I bought it on ebay. My original shaft was bent pretty bad and this one was in really good shape and for $35 I thought I could fix it up... But you're right, it will probably end up costing me more in the long run cause I bought a new axle today and Im gonna put it on tonight and see if that fixes it. I'll let you know

 

Well, I put the new axle in last night and it did not fix it... I brought it back and changed the front diff fluid and sprayed down the front U joint heavily with pentrating oil and just barely squeaked for about a mile or so and then it came back. I inspected the U joint best I could and noticed that it has just a very lil bit of play in it. Very little but its there.. Then I put the rear swing arms on jack stands and started it with the rear wheels off the ground and sure enough when it was turning the squeak came back. So I eliminated the front end completely. Is the U joint a common issue on these machines? It doesnt have a grease cert on the front u joint, I think there is one on the rear. And what parts would you suggest I replace, ie the u joint only or complete propshaft and U joint? Any suggestions would be great. Thanks

 

U-joints are cheap,about 30 bucks each for oem. Cheaper if you can match them up at Napa,etc.You might want to check around the prop shaft support as it has a plain bearing that could be making the noise you're hearing.Dirt Cheap Yamaha, Honda, Arctic Cat & Polaris OEM Parts & Accessories – Cycle Parts Warehouse

 

I took the console out and sure enough, it was the propshaft support bearing. It was so bad that it started smoking after about a minute of running the rear wheels on jack stands. It got too hot to handle and I couldnt even turn it by hand once I got it off the shaft. I found a new one not too far from me and replaced it and now I have my sanity back lol. Thanks for your help!

 

Sometimes you're sitting right on top of the problem and can't find it.. Glad you found it and you're sane now..