so the other day when i was driving...i had my window down and i could hear some noise...it sounded like plastic dragging on the concrete. but when i got out, there was nothing dragging...so i couldnt figure it out. then that same night, something started clacking really bad. i thought it was something sitting on the driveshaft maybe or something. i could feel it in the floor board. so i drove it home and looked...still nothing there. then this morning i get in it to drive to work and it makes this HORRIBLE squealing noise along with the clacking. i had my dad look at it while i was driving to see if he could see anything but he said it sounded like to him that it was in the middle of the truck somewhere. so here are my thoughts...bad u joint? or maybe is it my transfer case? or im praying it isnt the tranny...? i am not sure what could make these noises. it does go with the speed of the truck...not the engine. and it seems to be mostly when i am accelerating...like whenever it is under torque load?
so where should i start looking to fix it?
how do i check the level of oil in my transfercase?
and my friend said something about something coming loose where the driveshaft goes into the trasfercase...i dont remember what he said but is that a possibility?
so someone please help...im gonna be tearing into it tomorrow trying to figure it out. please let me know what yall think or if i am totally off on what it could be. any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

If I was betting I would go with the U joints. Easy to find and not to difficult to change. Remove the driveshaft and feel for play or just replace them. Sometimes it's hard to feel a bad joint with the shaft in place. I have had bad ones that didn't feel bad until I removed them and only then found worn bearings. Unless something else jumps out at you when you are inspecting the drivetrain I would look at the joints first. There is an allen plug midway up on the rear of the transfer case another one below it is the drain. Just use a 3/8 ratchet and extension inserted into the plug and remove it. The fluid level should about level with the bottom of the top plug hole.

 

ok it was the u joint...it was the one at the axle...it was really bad. i could feel play in it while the truck was in neutral. i will get a pic of how bad it was later. i did replace both of the u joints just for giggles and to make sure i dont have to take it apart again. lol but it did solve my problem. 30 bucks to replace them so im happy. i did determine the cause...it is definetly my axle wrap. i gotta figure out someway to solve that. the ideal would be new lift leaf springs but i dont know if i have the money for it right now.

 

Regarding the axle wrap. Try the Hellwig website. They have helper springs that are installed over the original leaf springs and they claim they help with axle wrap. Prices are not bad either.

 

aight here are the pics of how bad it was.




the install took me about 2 hours to do. it went really well actually. the only thing that gave me problems is when i marked where the yokes went together, it didnt mark good enough so it was kinda a 50/50 chance to see if it was right. i dont seem to have vibrations except for when im first accelerating but it is so minimal im not worried about it. (do they some how "settle" and the vibrations will stop?) but i havent been on the highway with it yet so i will do that soon and see if i have vibrations at high speeds.

and DYNOTECH, i will check out that site and see what they offer. thanks for the recommendation.

 

If you have a limited slip, the vibes accelerating in 1st can possibly be the clutch packs - wouldn't be a bad idea to change the gear lube and put friction modifier in it.