alright i went to get a coffee this morning, and grab the paper....had my subs on a little bit, turned out of my driveway, and thought i heard something....turned down the music, took another right hand turn, and my front axle was grinding the same way it would when it doesnt lock 4x4 all the way....i comes out of it when i straighten out ad drive about 30 feet....but everytime i turn right, it does it. Doesnt do it when turning left....

pulled back in the driveway, threw it in 4x4, engaged instantly, drive forward, could feel it was engaged. stopped, threw it in neutral, and pout it back to 2wd, disengaged instantly again. and could feel it wasnt in 4x4. but when i turn it still grinds....

any thoughts to this? fluid is a little over 3/4 full....im thinking i may have a bent axle shaft? u-joints, wheel bearings, axle seals, brakes, and tie rod ends have less than 5k on them.

i have to work 11-11 today, so i will not be able to get more info today, but please give me yor thoughts on what it could be....didnt do it when i drove last night.

 

check wheel bearings by grabbing the top to the tire and shaking it in/out.
also by jacking up the front and spinning the wheel. check feel and sound with wheels straight and when turned..

check u-joints by twisting the inner against the outer. any play?

 

nope i checked those this morning, and like i said u joints and wheel bearings have been changed within 5K ago.

Also i was able to get ahold of a buddy that told me that the "pin" in the differential is probably going.....does this mean i need a new ring and pinion? these 4.10's have around 40K on them....

 

pin going bad - unlikely. the pin just holds the spider gears in place. i can't see how it would go bad or wear out.

i know you said you tested it, but if the vac cad doesn't pull the collar out of the way, it could grind on the inner axle. a weak vac might cause this. if it does it again i'd check the vac level with a gauge and maybe pull the cad cover off and look at it.

 

i booked with work all weekend.....i changed all the vac. lines to the cad when i bought it at 187K, i was told 4x4 didnt work, and he showed me on of the lines was completly gone, so they are new lines....but thats the first thing ill check when i get a chance to look at it again.

 

alright looked it over, vac lines ar all good, fluid is good, u-joints are good, wheel bearings ar good, ball joints are good...

now when i get above 25 mph it grinds

heres a video of a ram thats doing the EXACT same thing as mine...please help....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKtNAAuCPQ0

 

Jack up the front end, and turn things. If it is grinding, you should be able to feel some irregularity when you turn whatever part is responsible for the noise.

 

That video sounds like the brake shield, meaning thin metal rubbing something.

 

no its def. not that, i was under the truck today, and didnt see any bent metal at all, and i checked my brakes a couple days ago (had a rock or something in the front caliper) and there were no irregularities.

lets say you switch to 4 low, and it does that grind when its not fully engaged...thats te sound its making....i know it has to do with the front diff....just trying to figure out what...

also i checked u joints on the front shaft (transfer case to diff) and theres no play at all....but i did notice, that where the shaft exits the transfer case, it seems like its out a little to much...the little shield is about an inch away from the case....is that normal? ive never noticed it...


also ive been told it may be the "preload", and the lash is off. does that sound right?

 

no. that's a silly as the pin being worn out.
lash and preload don't suddenly change.

how about the grinding coming from the transfer case? broken snap rings are common, allowing the output shaft to shift and grind against the case