A little background on my truck:
2000 Dodge Dakota Sport
4.7 Liter V8, Automatic Trans
Just over 100,000 Miles

I'll start by saying that I have taken my truck to the family mechanic within the past week (Very competent and knowledgeable shop owner, with a very good staff). I had a bad front left wheel ball baring and needed it replaced, I also asked about the squeak and had my brakes checked but nothing is wrong with the pads or anything. Before I take it back I'd like to get an idea to get an idea of what the problems may be, and what I'm in for $$$ wise.

There are two current problems I've been having that hopefully someone with a little more knowledge about the anatomy of an automobile can help me out with:

1. Front driver's side wheel squeaking/rubbing noise

This strange "squeak" or "rubbing" noise has been going on for about a year now. Here are a few details about the noise:

• Seems to come and go with no reasonable explanation as to why it disappears and reappears.
• The squeak/rub is a mid-high pitch noise that sounds like it squeaks every time the tire fully rotates.
• The frequency that the squeak or rub occurs speeds up as the MPH increases, and the time between squeaks is larger (slowing down), when the MPH decrease.
• I feel like driving on bumpy roads causes it to flare up and squeak louder.
• Turning left causes the squeak to grow louder if it was already squeaking or it may start the squeaking again if it wasn't noisy beforehand.
• The squeak goes completely silent when I apply the brake, and when I release the break pedal the squeak will immediately come back.
• The noise was seeming to die down before I took it to the mechanic and got a new ball-baring.
• The only issues I've had in the past have been a muffler and a brake line fix.
• The squeak is not loud enough to hear with the window up.
• Sounds like is metal-on-metal rubbing...almost like something is rubbing the back of the rim is some random spot.

What could be causing this? I'm positive its not the brake pads being worn because I just had them checked out. Any ideas on what might be rubbing the inside of the rim or something like that?


2. 4x4 not engaging/light not illuminating when shifted into 4hi Lock.

Earlier this summer, I went to take the truck off road onto a trail. I attempted to shift into 4hi Lock and nothing happened.

The 4x4 light did not illuminate and it isn't a dash light problem because the E-Brake light works just fine. The front axle could be getting engaged into 4hi Lock but I'm not sure.

I haven't tried 4Lo because I've never used it before for the fear I'd screw the transmission up or get it stuck in neutral. I haven't used 4hi since early winter when it snowed quite a bit and now heading off to school again in the fall I'd like to get to the bottom of this before I leave again.

Is there a good way to find out if the 4x4 is engaging? Any ideas on what part could be malfunctioning if it is not?

Thanks for your time, I know its a lengthy post and I appreciate any suggestions on anything I should look at or try to replace!

 

I'd be looking at the brakes first. If it goes away when you apply the brakes then there is a good chance the pads are rubbing on the rotor. It is not uncommon for there to be a slight groove in the calipers, from wear, that causes the pads to bind.

The 4x4 light could be a bad switch on the transfer case. You could jack the truck up so that all 4 wheels are off the ground and engage it.

 

I agree with the brake assessment. I've had those sort of noises come and go on many vehicles in the past.

The 4X4 test could be done more easily by finding a sandy bit of roadway/parking lot or even a short strip of dirt road and nailing the throttle from a standing start. Not for finding out your ET, just for a few seconds to see which wheels are spinning.