Did the recall thing on my 01 dakota quad cab. took the truck out for alittle 4 wheeling. went on a pretty steep incline in 4 low. just barely made it up. Well when we were on our way up, i could hear some sort of grinding noise (click, click, click, etc.). Did i mess up my axles? Now whenever i put in 4 hi, could sometimes hear the noise, but goes away when pick up speed. Seems the only time could hear it is when the truck is first starting out in 4 wheel or the truck is under load. Sometimes could hear it when in reverse in regular 2 wheel. Oh, by the way it is 01 quad cab, 3.9, 5 speed. Took a look under the truck and it seems like the axles are pretty small. Does anyone know what axles i have and what spline count, gear ratio.

 

dana 35 up front, chrysler 8.25 out back I think. spline count, no idea. ring/pinion, no idea. Look for your tags bolted to the diff covers.

I would wager it's a U-joint going out or something along those lines.

 

Thanks for the info. I'll check the u-joints after work. Kinda weird though. because it does it mostly when i put in 4 wheel. Just recently started doing it while in 2 wheel. but i think i'm heading to a solution. thanks.

 

Another thing to look at is the CV joint boots. If one has cracked and the grease has been flung out, you could hear the clicking when power is put to the front axle. This could also explain why you are beginning to hear it in 2 wheel drive also.

 

you wouldnt hear noise out of the cv joints until the wheels were turned hard one way or another. and it wouldnt matter if it was in 2 wheel or 4. the first thing i would check is the front u joints.

 

Just an update. The noise finally got worse, so i end up taking it into les schwab to have them look at it. Turned out to be the 4 wheel drive line. something about where the driveline goes into the transfer case. anyways the whole driveline needs to be replace. i guess it looked pretty bad, all busted up and rusted. Anyways they recommended not to drive it, so i just left it there. Hopefully the part arrives today, but they said for sure tomorrow. Price including labor will be close to 500.00

Anyone ever have this problem?

 

$500 eh? Bummer. Usually when front shafts go bad it's because they don't get used/lubed, but the Daks turn them all the time even in 2wd, so what gives?

 

why didn't dodge make u-joints for part that goes to the transfer case. kind of disappointed when i heard i had to replace the whole shaft. anyways its all fixed. hope the shaft isn't a weak part of the truck. would hate to replace again.