Well its that time of the year again... Cold and Snow, which means 4x4.

Ive been using it the last few days without issue, but on the drive home today it started making this squeaking / squealing sound when in 4x4 (4H), most noticeable when you let off the gas. Sound does not occur at all when in 2H. I have not gone so far as to check if the sound occurs in 4L.

I thought maybe U joints, so when I got home I put it in 2H, got under the truck and spun the front shaft by hand, can defiantly hear the squeal when you spin it, but it sounds more like its coming from inside the case, more towards the side of the case that mates with the front shaft.

4x4 DOES work, just the sound is the issue...

Any ideas mates?

Oh and yes, my tcase fluid is full, and was just changed this summer with ATF +4

 

What kind of road surface are you on when it starts making noise?

 

Ice / Snow

 

i'd bet on front drive shaft u-joints, probably the double carden thingy.

one way to prove it - is to remove the front drive shaft and operate the truck in 4wd. if it doesn't squeak, then its not the tcase and you have the drive shaft out where you can work on it - or take it to a drive line shop for rebuild.

 

Sounds Expensive...? >_<

I just had my entire front end rebuilt to the tune of $1700

 

see if yours looks like this 96.
http://www.pavementsucks.com/tech-article-16.html