2004 dodge dakota sxt. When I engage my 4 wheel drive (electronic), makes a terrible clanking sound(4 high and low) when i drive with it. Thinking it may be cv joint in front drive shaft, not sure though. If it is the front drive shaft how difficult is that to take and and replace the cv joint?? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

It's probably just easier to replace the entire front propeller shaft.

Take it out, see if the noise disappears. If it does, you've found the problem.

Do you have AWD or 4WD? If 4wd, you aren't driving on bare pavement are you?

 

4wd, if by bare pavement u mean without snow or not on dirt or mud then no, i only use 4 wheel when i need to, if i take the propellar shaft out then how will i know if thats the problem, cus the 4 wheel drive wont engage then....? i kinda wanted to avoid replacin the whole thing cus thats like $250

 

It still will "engage." You can put it in 4wd, no problem. The only difference is that the propeller shaft isn't in place to send power to the front diff.

The entire front drivetrain is always rotating on a Dakota. There are no locking hubs or anything. Really the only difference is that the front end is usually "coasting" along and there is no load on the front propeller shaft. When you put it in 4wd then there is a load on the shaft.

It is a common problem the CV joint failing.

One other thing you might check, pull the front differential cover and inspect the gears. If they're damaged it can knock too.

 

ok cool, im gunna take it off the shaft then and see if that is the problem. Are the cv joint kits a pain to put in?? I was researching and the kits are around $70 compared to 250 for the entire propeller shaft

 

Check this thread:

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...haft-pics.html