i was driving home from work yesterday doing my normal cruising speed and started to a sound echo from the bottom of the truck off the concrete divider. as i slowed down for traffic i started to hear a really hard grinding sound to the point it was shaking the truck. but once i got back up to speed the shaking went away. the grinding from what i can tell is coming from the front of the truck i am just not sure where to start looking.

Dakota 01 4.7L slt quadcab

 

2 or 4 wheel drive?

Thinking front propeller shaft. It could be the rear u-joints though too.

 

I'd be thinking wheel hub.

 

its a 4x4 truck was driving with only 2 wheel drive active when i start to hear the sound. so i will have to check the wheel hub and if it is not that i will check the front prop shaft. will also check the u joint but i the sound was coming from the front of the truck.

 

Don't forget that the entire front drivetrain including the front propeller shaft, rotates any time the truck moves whether in 2wd or 4wd.

Shaking to me indicates something is out of balance.

 

Sounds like front hub bearings or brakes worn out. Easy fix.

 

well brakes are only 6 months old so cant be them. so i am leaning toward the wheel hub to check first and see how they are and work my way in towards the middle.

btw thx to everyone for the information.

 

well i have check the wheel hubs and the drive shaft that goes in to the hub and they seem to be fine from what i can tell. my father inlaw told me to check the piece that engages the 4 wheel drive maybe it faulty and cause a partial engage. which could be the sound i hear of metal grinding. now my question is what acually cause the 4 wheel drive to engage after i turn the **** in the cab?

 

There's an actuator (motor and gearbox) on the transfer case. The TCCM should fault if there is a problem in the system - and the dash light flash.

 

ok thx for the info well then the only thing i have left to check is the diff its self i didnt check it before cause really didnt want to drain it but i have no other choices.