4X4 problem
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 14,325
Likes: 14
From: Island Southeast Alaska
Signing on. This has me wondering. Could it be a broken axle? Or the spline slipping in the deff? A bad hub does make the most sense with what information we have without seeing it at this point. Maybe remove and inspect the hubs? Was it doing this BEFORE ya replaced the U joints? Maybe the hub is together wrong.
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2012
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Yes and yes. It acted normal for a month before it started popping.
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Signing on. This has me wondering. Could it be a broken axle? Or the spline slipping in the deff? A bad hub does make the most sense with what information we have without seeing it at this point. Maybe remove and inspect the hubs? Was it doing this BEFORE ya replaced the U joints? Maybe the hub is together wrong.
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2012
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One other thing I noticed today when driving it to work. When I am in two wheel drive and take a sharp turn I can hear whats sounds like a tinkling bell coming out of the front end. I think I am about to just start buying bearing, u-joints and new guts for the diff 
. Just change it all out that way I have covered everything except the hubs.Then I will really know whats going on if it keeps doing it after that. 
. Just change it all out that way I have covered everything except the hubs.Then I will really know whats going on if it keeps doing it after that.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,437
Likes: 4
From: Charles Town, W bygod Va
One other thing I noticed today when driving it to work. When I am in two wheel drive and take a sharp turn I can hear whats sounds like a tinkling bell coming out of the front end. I think I am about to just start buying bearing, u-joints and new guts for the diff . Just change it all out that way I have covered everything except the hubs.Then I will really know whats going on if it keeps doing it after that.
. Just change it all out that way I have covered everything except the hubs.Then I will really know whats going on if it keeps doing it after that. 
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
In this mode if the truck is shaking and making very loud noises, it would have to be something with the rear driveline or the transfer case.
If it was something in the frontend, since those parts are turning, it would be gentle knocking or clicking, since they are doing nothing but just free-wheeling.
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2012
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WAIT A MINUTE! Did everyone miss this? He's not even in 4x4 if his hubs are not locked in and it still does it. His transfer case is in 4x4 mode, and the front components are just free wheeling with no strain on them at all.
In this mode if the truck is shaking and making very loud noises, it would have to be something with the rear driveline or the transfer case.
If it was something in the frontend, since those parts are turning, it would be gentle knocking or clicking, since they are doing nothing but just free-wheeling.
In this mode if the truck is shaking and making very loud noises, it would have to be something with the rear driveline or the transfer case.
If it was something in the frontend, since those parts are turning, it would be gentle knocking or clicking, since they are doing nothing but just free-wheeling.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2012
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From: Georgia
If he's in 4WD with the hubs unlocked, everything in the front end is turning, at far as the locking hubs, even though the parts aren't under load. If something is hitting, or there's a bad u-joint, it would still make the noise.
The fact that it's only when he turns points to the front end as that has the most parts to cause a problem. The other alternative is the rear diff because it's components are rotating at different speeds relative to each other when turning, as opposed to moving in a straight line.
The axles and front wheels are the only components that operate differently going straight vs turning.
If examining the front end comes up empty, I'd put the rear on jack stands and rotate one wheel by hand, then the other, to get some internal diff relative movement.
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 14,325
Likes: 14
From: Island Southeast Alaska
Wow!! This is getting complicated. I wish I was there to lay hands on it. Are you sure the hubs are coming unlocked completely??
Have you jacked it up and blocked it and rotated the wheels and shafts with it in and out of 4X4 as yet? Is there oil in all three boxes?
Have you jacked it up and blocked it and rotated the wheels and shafts with it in and out of 4X4 as yet? Is there oil in all three boxes?
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2012
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Wow!! This is getting complicated. I wish I was there to lay hands on it. Are you sure the hubs are coming unlocked completely??
Have you jacked it up and blocked it and rotated the wheels and shafts with it in and out of 4X4 as yet? Is there oil in all three boxes?
Have you jacked it up and blocked it and rotated the wheels and shafts with it in and out of 4X4 as yet? Is there oil in all three boxes?
unless I have handled something like it before. Thus why I am seeking advice from people here, who have a whole lot more knowledge on the problems that can and have occurred than I do. 
and yes I am sucking up cause I really do need help.
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2012
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Nope, didn't miss it, that's why I suggested a closer examination on jack stands.
If he's in 4WD with the hubs unlocked, everything in the front end is turning, at far as the locking hubs, even though the parts aren't under load. If something is hitting, or there's a bad u-joint, it would still make the noise.
The fact that it's only when he turns points to the front end as that has the most parts to cause a problem. The other alternative is the rear diff because it's components are rotating at different speeds relative to each other when turning, as opposed to moving in a straight line.
The axles and front wheels are the only components that operate differently going straight vs turning.
If examining the front end comes up empty, I'd put the rear on jack stands and rotate one wheel by hand, then the other, to get some internal diff relative movement.
If he's in 4WD with the hubs unlocked, everything in the front end is turning, at far as the locking hubs, even though the parts aren't under load. If something is hitting, or there's a bad u-joint, it would still make the noise.
The fact that it's only when he turns points to the front end as that has the most parts to cause a problem. The other alternative is the rear diff because it's components are rotating at different speeds relative to each other when turning, as opposed to moving in a straight line.
The axles and front wheels are the only components that operate differently going straight vs turning.
If examining the front end comes up empty, I'd put the rear on jack stands and rotate one wheel by hand, then the other, to get some internal diff relative movement.
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