I have an 01 1500 off road ram that now is making noise when i put it in four hi or low.
It does not seem to be the driveshaft or u-joints or cv joint but cannot tell if the noise is coming from the transfer case or the axle where the axles engage, it seems to lock into 4 wheel drive and the front seems to work but like i said it is making a clicking and binding noise..
can anyone help???
Thanx

 

When does it make the noise? Straight line, turning, only in reverse...
Does it drive funny in 4? skip, bark, jerk...
What road surface are you on when this happens? dry road, dirt road, mud, snow...

 

Took mine out in the snow a few minutes ago and I've got a clicking noise too, but not binding noise.Does it staright or when I turn. It is the front drive shaft joint(s) or axle joint and possibly hub bearing but I doubt it.

And btw when you check the joints don't do it when it's in 4 wheel drive, they will have tension on them and you won't be able to tell if they are loose or not.

 

My brother had the exact same truck (01 off road) and had the exact same problem you are describing. When he put it in 4 wheel drive (low or high) all he could do is roll forward a few inches and this god-awful binding/snapping noise would happen. We checked everything on the front axle including the actuator/shift fork assembly and it was all fine. It ended up being the shift fork in the transfer case. Good luck and happy hunting.

 

That is exactly what happened to mine and is in the shop right now. You might want to look into a transfer case rebuild.

 

It does it going straight and turning, more so turning i believe that to be from wind up but i think it is a transfer case more than anything since i have changed out all front hubs and shafts with all new and new joints...
Thanx

 

I replaced my TC last year, so I doubt that's it. And since my bearings and joints seem fine , I'm going to look into the CAD and also make sure the vac lines and switch on the TC is good.

But since I hear the clicking on the driver side, I think the joint is bad and froze up, so I'm not feeling any play when I check it by hand.

 

Not positive, but think I read somewhere in hard turns you did get some popping from U joints, mine has done this, but only in hard turns.

 

ive got the same problem on my 99 2500, replaced front axle u joints(they needed it anyway) but didnt help any, i noticed i can feel it feel it really good coming through the transfer case shifter, so im guessin that might be where my problem is. good luck with yours.

 

i am almost positive that if you disengage the 4wd and crawl under the truck and grab the front driveshaft, you will notice excessive play in the double carden joint. I have replaced several of these on other trucks that made the "grinding, binding, popping" sound, (good description by the way, that is accually exactly what it sounds like, lol). The ball and socket will be worn out and will be seperating. check it out and let us know.