My D had problems with the front end as many do. In my case, it was wheel bearings... Sounded exactly like what you described. I heard (and as it got worse... felt) a weird grinding noise from my driver side front wheel. Eventually, it got louder, and I could hear it when turning just a little, so I took it to my shop.

They put it on the lift, and my driver side wheel came flying down... the bearings were bad in both wheels, but worse on my driver side. I'd definitely have those checked. As many said before... the front ends on these things are far too lightweight for their heavy duty activities.

As far as CAI goes... I've got one installed on my D, and a catback exhaust, and those are my only (non-cosmetic) mods. I get 17-20 mpg, my last fill up was 17.7. I do more city driving now (55/45), but it's all about being easy on the gas and I've noticed better mileage on higher octanes. That may just be me, but it's been consistent.

 

What do you mean by "flying down?" Like it fell off as it was lifted?

I'm pretty easy on the gas. In a car like this, the urge to hammer down the pedal is nonexistant, I go about 55-60 on the highway only going about 70 in short bursts. I use 87, but in order to use 93 I gotta empty the tank and at $100 for a full tank I try to top off at the halfway point.

So best case scenario is bearings and transfer case shifter linkage repair. I looked up prices for all the parts listed here, including a transfer case for worst case scenario and I'm looking at close to $1,000 not including labor. Again I'm only installing intake, headers, and exhaust so I can hear the rumble when it's on. Cars that are too quiet drive me nuts.

I'm going to test to 4wd after work tonight. How would I know it's engaged? A difference in traction? More pull from a stop due to added traction? Any abnormal sounds I hear I'll let everyone know. I'm getting this inspected thursday and once that's out of the way I'm going to focus on restoring the front end if neccessary. Keeping my fingers crossed either way. The less I spend, the better haha.

 

Yes, it literally fell off. The only thing holding it on was the wheel mount. Almost hit my mechanic on the head!

I understand higher octanes are debated at best, and expensive at the least... 87 should be fine, and in fact that's what I usually use now. There's a nearby SUNOCO that carries 100 octane... But it's about driving style mostly. I noticed a big improvement from my exhaust and CAI mods, I went from 13-14 up to my current 17-20. So I'd definitely say yes to both of those.

As for 4WD, you should be able to feel it engage, but at worst, turn your wheels all the way to one side or the other. If it's jumpy, you're in 4WD. And you'll know what I mean if you are in 4WD.

 

I run low grade in the Durango and high grade in the fusion. I don’t notice a difference (I tried switched to see, premium in durango and regular in fusion).

Another easy way to tell 4wd is wait until it rains. From a dead stop slam on the gas in 4wd and see what happens.

I have no issues roasting my tires on dry pavement in 2wd and it’s even easier in the rain. However 4wd in the rain and I fly.

I wouldn’t try puting it in 4wd on dry pavement and turning. Too easy to weakin stuff. Best to wait for dirt or rain.

 

Ok....update.

Tested the 4WD. I put the truck into 4H and the minute I began to roll forward I started hearing a thunking sound. After that I put it back in 2H and went to the other job. And what does one mean by "jumpy?" I read up on autoshh's reply so just now I went back out, turned the truck on, shifted back to 4H and cut the wheel all the way one side. Should the front of the car literally be bobbing up and down? Because I don't feel anything different. By that, I figure it would have to be the linkage. But earlier, it did engage the transfer case because of the thunking sound I first heard engaging the 4WD.

I decided to take the truck around the parking lot in 4H. As the wheels began to turn, I began to hear "KA-THUNK, KA-THUNK, KA-THUNK!"

When I took a sharp turn the KA-THUNKING got faster. The sound also got faster when I sped up. I'm starting to lean towards worst case scenario here....either the linkage is preventing the 4WD from engaging fully and the thunking sounds are because the gears aren't meshed together or the transfer case has gone the way of the dodo. And I saw the price for transfer cases....

 

My NV242 (AWD) transfer case was only $250...

Anywho, I wish I could help but I don’t know much about 4wd systems to fix issues like yours.

 

I wouldn't know if I'm either NV231 or NV 242. How would I know this was equipped on my Durango? From what I checked the NV242 was an option while NV231 transfer cases were standard. I'm an SLT but I don't know if I'm SLT plus. I'm kinda hoping I'm NV231....I don't see me using full time 4WD all the time...only when its snowing. NV242 require a process to swap in, no?

Either way, I won't know the full problem until I have it looked at this Thursday.

 

Nv242 = awd

nv231 = 2wd

 

Awesome. That helps on the budget in case I do have to replace the transfer case.

 

NV244 = AWD

Sorry.. I’m stuck on NV242 in my head (which is wrong).