So yesterday I put in the AS 2" leveling kit. About a mile down the road, i started to get a few binding clunking noises as I turned left to go around the block to my house. THe noise was out of the Passenger side front. Every time I turned I got this same noise. So i went to an empty parking lot and did some figure 8s to try to replicate the noise. It would sometime be there and sometimes not. I went back to my grandparents garage to check things. I found absolutely no play with the wheel bearings, no noticable issues with the cv half shaft, and nothing behind the brake backing plates or down in the calipers. I proceeded to take the AS kit back out (just as a testing measure) to make sure that was causing any issues. What I am left with is this- when I drive the truck I get a grinding/squeeling noise out of the passenger front. Its only there while accelerating. Let off the gas, noise is gone! Switch to 4x4, noise is gone. The noise is 99.99999999% coming out of the right front bearing/hub area. I even went as far as to replace the 4x4 vacuum actuator thinking maybe it wasnt quite engaging enough. Nope, not it. Im Lost, and $225 for a new wheel bearing just to test is a lot of money! HHHEEEEEELLLLLLLPPPPPPPP

 

It's your IWE soleinod, don't know to muck info on it do a search here sure you will come up with some thing. But that's the same thing that happened to my truck when I got it and it was the IWE.

 

Does it have more than one solenoid? Like one for each side, or just one that works for both sides?

 

Search IWE solenoid, very easy to find, and replace. It is help on with a couple of vac lines, 2 bolts, and 1 electrical connection. I think I bought mine from the local dealer for $17 or so. Mine failed a few times and I replaced it before the IWE was damaged. I took the battery out to get more room to work, but it is on the firewall right behind the battery. If the sound happens again and you can engage 4wd without binding (ie turning much) get into 4wd and see if the sound goes away. This is how I diagnosed mine.

 

I feel like a total azz! Notice in my first post, I said I had put in the 2" leveling kit? Well, that means I was also working on the drivers side of the truck. I accidently unplugged the vacuum line for the IWE on that side. That allowed that side to stay engaged and QUIET!!! Meanwhile, the passenger side was getting enough vacuum to stay quiet until under a load with the throttle. Once I found the drivers side unhooked and put it back, fixed. I tore that passenger side apart 3 times today. Replaced the IWE, took it back out, tore down once more just to check everything. man o man.