I think I've got one goin bad right now too...

 

It looks like I will be able to go to the shop in about an hour and I will take the front driveshaft out, engage the 4X4 and see if the noise goes away. I figured if it was the driveshaft then it would still make the noise when I had it on jack stands....however there wasn't any friction so maybe not.

I'll give an update after I take out the drive shaft.

 

Could try the jackstand trick again, and to supply some friction... step on the brake.

 

Got the drive shaft out and the noise is gone! After inspecting with it out of the truck I still don't see anything wrong with the U-joints. I will have them replaced and hopefully that will cure the problem.

Thanks

 

do you have any wiggle, play, or slop in any part of your drive shaft u-joints ?
try to twist them.

put your front end back up on jack stands, 4wd engaged and axle locked up, and try rotating the pinion by hand. do you hear or feel anything bad ?

 

redneck idea #32 -drive it till it breaks and then you know what it is

 

As dhvaughan has already stated, I too believe it's the double carden joint. It's not just the ujoints that you can see. The center has a ball that also has a seal that goes bad and then the ball goes bad. The only thing thats different here is, they usually squeak not tick when bad.

 

interesting.... I recently picked up a squeak in the front end, I thought it was a front ujoint. My squeak sounds like its comin from around the left front, but I may be hearing the front driveshaft? It is very likely that that's where I'm hearing it from now that you mention it. I thought it kinda sounded funny for a ujoint goin bad, but what you say makes sense Thanks for the tip zman, I'll check that out, maybe even try pullin it like texan did.

 

I took the driveshaft in today and the guy said that he would take it apart and see. Then he grabbed the double joint moved it one way and said; " yeah, I think you got a problem, it's kinda hangin up right here" Then I grabbed it, did the same thing and still didn't have a clue what the crap he was talking about....but his "business in the front, party in the back" mullett did make me think I was in the right place!

He is supposed to call me tomorrow and let me know.

 

Just got off the phone with the mullett, and he didn't see anything wrong with the drive shaft or any of the joints. I will try to get it back on tonight and report back.

Anyone else have any suggestions?