Grinding After Engine Dying
Your hubs are spring loaded, and whenever there is no vacuum applied to them from the engine, they are going to lock into 4x4. When the truck is parked, with the engine off, your hubs are locked. When you start the engine, and the truck is in 2HI, vacuum solenoids apply vacuum to the hubs, and they release. When your engine died, all of the sudden there was no vacuum going to those hubs. This caused the springs to lock the hubs, but while this was happening the front drive shaft was still locked at the t-case.
So, they were trying to lock in, but couldn't because the truck was moving and the driveshaft was locked. This was the grinding you heard. Nothing to worry about with the grinding...but why did the engine die?
If this happens in the future, hit the brakes ASAP to avoid this, as over time it will damage your hubs. If you can't hit the brakes, engage your 4x4, which will unlock the driveshaft and spin the front driveline up to speed, and allow the hubs to lock in without damaging themselves.







