ok so i have a 1996 dodge 360 that has some issues and i was just looking for help and suggestions to fix the problems. 1st problem. when i put my truck into 4 wheel drive in high low or anything and step on the gas softly or just hammer on it the whole front end shakes like a ****, and we guessed that the front wheels are going faster then the back and i was wondering whats the cause or how do i fix. 2nd problem when i turn more right then left i hear something swaying back and forth making this annoying noise. any suggestions or ideas on what it is or how to fix.
to anyone that has an idea please tell me i dont wont my truck to break down or something.

 

any way you can get a vid? did you have the gears changed? are the gears different from the front to rear?

 

I'm thinking broken front axle u-joints, broken spider gears/ring and pinion gears in the front differential or broken u-joints on the front drive shaft.

Inspect the u-joints on the front axle shafts, you can see them inside the steering knuckles and you don't have to take anything off to get at them. Grab the u-joints and jolt them back and forth to feel for movement and take a good look to be sure they aren't broken.

Do the same with the front drive shaft, you have two u-joints inside a metal housing toward the rear of the front drive shaft close to the transfer case so take a good look at them.

If it is not u-joints then take your front differential cover off and inspect the gears, if it isn't the gears then at least you get a fluid change out of the deal.

If you pull the front differential cover off then you should also pull the cad unit off and inspect the shift collar for damage. It is toward the passenger side of the axle, on the back of it with some vacuum lines and a set of wires connected to a sensor on it.

 

Suspension arm bushings bad or trac-bar maybe? How does it steer?

 

The first test would be to verify that the front is moving faster than the back. Lift one axle after putting it in 4wd. Mark the tire to the fender and the drive shaft to the diff housing. Count the number of revolutions of the drive shaft to turn the tire one time. Guess as close as you can to one decimal ie. 3.5 turns of drive shaft is probably 3.55 gears or almost 4 turns is 3.92 gears. Just over 4 would be 4.10 gears. Do this to the other axle as well. If they aren't the same, your gears don't match and one of the sets will have to be replaced.

Also check the vaccume line on the front axle. if it leaks, 4wd will not fully engage giving the same sort of symptoms. Good luck!

 

I didn't even think of that, I've always seen either broken or not.
But the symptoms would be the same as and could also result in a chewed up shift collar.

 

I am having this problem right now. This is the first I have had the truck in 4 wheel drive and it shakes like hell under acceleration but only up to a certain point and then it calms down and then when I let off the throttle and slow down it will do it at a certain point. Did you happen to find out what your problem was and what fixed it?