Funny noise in front end

Swbari00 · Post by **Swbari00** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 11:49 pm

i just got an oil change today and on my way home I decided to try out the 4hi since they had checked the fluids underneath (dont really know why i decided this but it did anyway

) at anyrate i heard a funny sound, barely noticable, but then i stepped on the gas pedal a bit and it sounded like something was grinding up front (kinda like a rotor maybe) any clue if this could have been something the oil change place did???

Swbari00 · Post by **Swbari00** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 11:53 pm

BTW....... Hows that for vague

Post by **HenryJ** » Sun Jan 09, 2005 7:38 am

Swbari00 wrote:...Hows that for vague...

Pretty good

Could it just be the normal gear noise when in 4x4?

Swbari00 · Post by **Swbari00** » Sun Jan 09, 2005 10:59 am

i really have no idea. its really loud tho. over my radio loud. it might just be my imagination but i think i can feel it in the floorboard as well

barch97 · Post by **barch97** » Sun Jan 09, 2005 11:01 am

is this only while in 4hi/lo? or all the time?

Post by **HenryJ** » Sun Jan 09, 2005 11:10 am

Does it do this every time, or was it a one time deal?

Any chance it was just the front axle trying to engage?

The slip joint is not that much different from the gears in a manual transmission. Except they are straight cut and the shift collar does not have syncros. Much like the "granny low" in an old truck.

You do have a benefit in that when both wheels are moving the spline and coupler do usually line up pretty smoothly. Problems could arise from differences on speed from one side to the other.
Much like trying to get the old granny low to go into gear, increasing engine speed doesn't help. In fact it usually grinds worse. What you should do is push in the clutch and let the speeds equalize to a point the gears mesh.
Your front axle is a similar situation , ease up and let it equalize/mesh and it should engage.

Swbari00 · Post by **Swbari00** » Sun Jan 09, 2005 11:19 am

its done it everytime since tho oil change. it seems to engage just fine. its only when i give it some gas that it makes the sound. havent tried in 4lo yet. it doesnt sound like gears in a manual tranny grinding. i think im just going to take it in to the dealer since its under warranty. although im sure they will just say, oh yeah, 4x4 makes lots of noises. thats what they told me with the balance shaft noise. that is until i told them it was between certain rpm's, which i learned from this site

Post by **HenryJ** » Sun Jan 09, 2005 11:35 am

This might be a sticky, or slow activating front axle actuator.

The actuator is underneath the battery tray, and the cable goes to the right side of the differential on the right axle tube. Look for any damage, or kinks.

A vacuum pump can be applied to check the diaphram for leakage. Looking for loose vacuum lines is another posibility.

I would say that if you see nothing obvious, and being under warranty, let your dealership take a look

Might be a good idea to remove the front differential fill plug , while warm and right after a nice drive to mix things up. Dip your finger in and check to see if there are metallic particles. This could be a sign of something going bad.