I HAVE A 5.9 2001 DURANGO WITH 4 WHEEL DRIVE ANDWhen I hit the gas FROM A dead stop, there is a clunking OR whining noise from the left front end. Its so loud i don't want to drive the thing.IHave been told it may be a broken front axle? HOW MUCH WILL IT COST TO GET FIX OR IF NOT A HARD JOB CAN I DO IT.Any help/advice would be highly appreciated. [/align]

 

Sure it's not the chain in the transfer case?

Could be a wheel bearing.

Could be a ball joint.

The only thing here is that you need to figure it out if it is a whine or a clunk.

 

wheel bearing how you change that.

 

I CHANGE AXLE IT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM NEED ADVICE. IT ALSO MAKES THE NOISE WHEN JUST ROLLING WITHOUT HITTING THE GAS.CHAIN IN TRANSFER CASE HOW CAN YOU TELL THATS BAD?
WHEEL BEARING HOW CAN YOU TELL IF THATS BAD?

 

Wheel Bearing:
You need to lift the tire up and grasp the enrire wheel. Move it up, down, sideways, and diagnal and see if you have any movement. This will tell you about the codition of the ball joints. While it is up spin the wheel and lession to it. Also feel the movement of the bearing.

Transfer Case:
Lock it in 4 low and turn the wheel on dry asfalt. Don't move too far!!!!!!! See if you hear the chain make a sound like grinding.

It also could be a U-joint going out.

 

i now changed the wheel bearing on driverside. as soon as i hit the gas in drive there goes the noise again.problem still stands.it does not make the noise when i hit the gas in park.

 

the noiseget louder when i hit the gas, i also raised both front tires and turn the driver side wheel bearing by hand no noise.

 

I think it might be a ball joint or something in the front differential.

Lift the vehicle. Grab the tire tight up to your chest and move it around with a lot of strength. Like I said up, down, side to side and feel for movement.

You might want to get someone outside the vehicle and have them watch and lesson for the sound. Maybe that will help you narrow it down.

 

Nick:
How many miles on your D??

Is your D part time or full time 4x4?? When was the last time your serviced the front differential fluid??

No offense intended, but I am sure you want to get to the problem without just throwing parts at it. Sometimes these issues can be a bear.

Have you given the U joints a good lookover?? It seems that the U joints (especially the front shaft) tend to go out in a rather quick and noisy fashion without much warning.

Check these things and get back to us Don

 

i had the wheel bearing on my passenger side go out. It was a grinding noise at slower speeds that seemed to be coming from the the drivers side(not the passenger side where it was at). It wasn't until i was able to put the truck up on jacks and feel for play in the wheels to find the problem. Check for play in both front wheels... The play in the wheels can be from a wheel bearing or from bad ball joints, depending on what part of the wheel is loose. Under the truck too you should check the CV boots where the axles plug into the wheels. If those boots are all torn up the the joints on the inside are most likely shot.