Well the other day the front end started making noise on my 2002 1500 4x4. It does it only in 2wd. I don't notice it in 4wd. I had it on the hoist at the local oil change place and discovered the axle shaft on the drivers side has play where it comes out of the diff. Not at the cv joint. Anyone have ideas of what, how long , and how much this is? It's too cold and snowy here for me to screw around with it myself in the driveway.

 

sounds like a bearing, bearings are cheap to buy but a mechanic will charge you enough to put it in.

 

That's what I was thinking. I came on suddenly, though. I didn't notice any slow wearing. And strange that it's only in 2wd.

 

Sounds like it could be your hub (i agree). The reason you may or may not hear it in 4wd is because in 4wd your constanly putting pressure on the hubs... where as in 2wd they're just spinning freely.

 

hey that strange I was under mine today changed out my diff fluid. I noticed that where the axle comes out of the pumpkin at the joint it's leaking .looks like it's pressed into the diff/pumpkin any one eles have this?

 

I've recently had my right hand side front diff seal changed under warranty, was only a slight leak though.