Remove it from the front axle first, then angle the shaft as far as you can to the passenger side , with a bolt at the 3 O'clock position. Put the t-case in 4 wheel drive, THEN break the bolt loose. do NOT take it out yet, just crack it loose. Do that for all four bolts, then remove them.

 

ok thanks.. going to give that a try. I'll let ya know the progress

 

Ok, just took off the front D/S and the 2 u-joints look like they are starting to go bad. They bind up sometimes when rotating them. I drove it down the road and it 65mph with the front D/S off of it and it still was making the same sounds. I also put it in 4wd and it did not make sounds while going low speeds like it did before with the D/S on.

I am now starting to think that the noise is coming from the front axle. It is mainly on the Drivers side where the noise is coming from. Any ideas now?

 

Wheel bearing. They are hub/bearing units, and are notorious for going bad. If you have a boatload of miles on them.... they are highly suspect. Jack up the front, see if you get any movement out of the drivers wheel that you don't think should be there.

 

Hmmm.. Think I will take the wheel and brakes off tomorrow to check out the hub.

This is a pain in the A$$!!

 

well, I went to the dealer today because the snap ring that they gave me was way to big. So i went to see why they gave me the wrong part. Turns out that they gave me the right part for the t-case that came original factory in the truck. When the trans shop put a used t-case in the truck from when the previous owner had it, instead of putting back in a 231 t-case they installed a 242 t-case.

Anyone know if this would make any difference? I dont think that the noise is coming from the t-case, but also now wondering if since they put a different t-case in it would that cause any damage/problems in the front axle/diffs or with the transmission?

 

Some info on the 242.

Actually, doesn't look like such a bad plan...... If the t-case isn't causing the noise, I would leave it in there, and take advantage of the versatility.

 

what doesnt look like such a bad plan?