Guys, it was the U-Joints. Did it as the last possible thing, mechanic pulled the axles, started yanking to get the the U-Joints, found out that 1 of my Warn Premium hubs was destroyed because of the binding in the U-Joints. Little metal parts all over the place. There goes another $200.

Ever since then, it's been buttery smooth. Kind of glad the truck is not trying to kill me anymore!

 

Those trucks can be mystical. I repaced the PS pump which fixed it 80% and then the belt which made it work 100% but the u-joints were binding a little the whole time which I cured by repeatedly spraying with penetrating oil and turning in tight circles................very strange. I still have my ESOF and original PS box and and it's all good now. I am thinking a $30 belt and some penetrating oil would have fixed everything. Well; we tried and now they are working well. (I did knock on some wood)

 

The belt was replace a week earlier, (70k miles regular maintenance) and it still did it. Also, I use the truck to plow snow, so I'm not at all surprised. The U-Joints looked absolutely terrible though, so I don't mind replacing.