Had the first measureable snowfall for the year and finally had a chance to try out the 4WD while plowing snow. After a few passes not horsing or overpowering the drivetrain I started noticing some "clicking" noise like what you would expect from a stripped gear/shaft. There were no loud boom or cracks sounds though. Snnow is still falling and I have no garage to get under to look at anything. So I don't know if that noise was something seriously bad or not. I am also assuming it is the transfer case, it's dark outside at the moment and it just happened. Just had it at the shop less then a month ago and had a new front driveshaft installed and CV's, front wheel bearings were goog to go. No noise in 2WD though. Lets hear your thoughts on all this.

 

How many miles on it? Might just be a sloppy chain.

 

144,000 miles and too describe the noise better, think about taking a socket ratchet wrenh and spinning it around by holding onto the socket twirling the handle in a circular motion. Kind of a z-z-z-z-z-z noise - so maybe "clicking" noise was the wrong way to describe it.

 

Put the truck in 4x4, jack up the front, see how far you can turn the front driveshaft before it hits resistance.

 

Checked it out, Takes forever to engage 4WD (30 seconds to 1 minute) and strill makes that "zipping" noise while in 4H or 4L. The only difference is in high it sounds faster and in low it sounds slower. Is the transfer case electric motor not fully engaging the 4WD? Too much snow to look under it, but did move back far enough to see there was no liquid on the ground.

 

That kinda points to a sloppy chain.... it IS moving slower in low.....

 

Not disputing a loose chain, but the sounds doesn't seem to make a scraping sound against the case. it's a z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z noise similar to plastic gears turning on a stripped shaft. Does the chain turn in the transfer case while in 2WD mode? If it does, then there no noise in 2WD - only 4WD.

 

If you ever used a battery powered drill/hammer drill, it makes the exact same noise as when you sent the torque and it screw till it won't move anymore.

 

Also the front driveshaft/front axle isn't engaging properly and majorly slipping while doing the z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z noise. No jumping, jaring or loud clanging noises happening.

 

Do you have a central axle disconnect on the front axle??? I wonder if that isn't makin' the noise, and not the t-case.

Chain isn't under power in 2wd, but, just all the spinny parts will make it move some.... You would be able to stop it by hand though. (not that I would recommend trying that...... bad idea.... just... bad.....)