engaged 4 wheel i heard a squealing noise. to almost a grinding noise. took out of 4 wheel noise went away. place back in 4 wheel squealing noise is back.
once home i checked all the u joints and they are good with no slop/play.
checked front diff fluid and transfer case, also good.
took for a another test run in 4 wheel and squealing is there and now i here a bit of gear noise. it does come and go ( the gear noise) most noise is low speed. get up in speed it goes away, but go faster its more of "grinding" noise. cant truly say 100% grinding. but kinda sounds like that.
done some searching and do not think its the seals. "maybe" the wheel bearings.
or something the front diff is starting to go out. carrier bearings etc.
will pull cover off soon when i can afford gear oil.

it only makes the sound in 4 wheel drive though.
need fixed as i live in MN.

 

Can you tell where the noise is coming from??? Front axle? T-case?? Can you put it up on jackstands (all four wheels off the ground) and run it a bit?

 

Didn't get a chance to lift it up last night. Will try tonight. But I am pretty sure it's in the front, could be center

 

Drove it today in 4 wheel noise was there again. But last 2 miles it went away. Maybe something wad stuck in the seal??

 

U joints can be bad and not have any play. They original?

 

drove it in a parking lot after work today the noise is back. was able to drive in 2 wheel today. so this weekend if i have time and can afford it changing out the seals. i think they are the cause of this. i feel they are spinning inside the tube, causing the grinding/squealing noise.
damn this is going to be a pain to do.
any good tips? found a good video on youtube.

oh one more thing. before i moved up to MN the drivers side/left seal was leaking. then all of a sudden it stopped. so i wonder with all the snow and salt its fubar'ed up

 

Seals generally won't spin in the tube.

The front bearings, axle shafts, pumpkin and driveshaft are always moving when the truck is moving (if it's the 2000 in your sig line)

The difference is when you put it in 4WD, there is torque applied to the front diff, instead of just 'free wheeling'


Sounds like it may be the pinion bearings in the front diff.

Or possibly the double cardan in the front driveshaft, the 'ball' will often go dry, and 'chirp' like a bird, or growl. Usually that happens in 2 or 4WD in my experience.


You anywhere near Duluth? I could throw another set of eyes and ears on it.

 

omg, I didn't even think of the pinion bearing. Oh how I hope not.
Yes your right only makes the noise in 4 wheel. Under pressure.
I guess I will have to jack it up and run it to determine the location.
Live in the Twin cities

 

lift all 4 wheels off ground and the noise is NOT coming from the front end its the transfer case. did the hose to ear trick and its more prominent in the front output shaft and not the yoke.
any ideas on how easy to fix this? we have some major snow coming in tormorrow and will need it. will i damage it more?
did i cause it by changing out the fluid during the fall time? i used atf 4 fluid.

 

That's the correct fluid. How loud is it? Still a squeal? Or is it a grind?