Binding Front end

[97fordrunner]

Recently My truck has started clunking in the front end, it was only noticable when slowing down but now its developed so it does it at all speeds. Today It started doing it and I maintained that speed and it felt like something was binding and twisting in the front left cause I felt the wheel pull that way for a moment. After jacking the front up and taking the wheels off and inspecting the hubs and the front U-Joints they all seem to be in good condition, It does it going straight on level ground or turning going into a driveway. when shifted into 4wd it got really bad that was without the hubs locked in. I pulled the front drain plug to see if I could see anything inside that looked bad and from what I can see the spider gears look ok nothing worn bad or missing that I can see. When I turn the front driveshaft I can feel a area where it gets harder to turn and then it goes back to being easy. Front end is stock open 3.73, 32" tires and 4 wd gets used rarely, mostly when wheeling. Any help would be great, I am thinking something internal on the front diff. and just want other opinions before I tear into that. Also do you have to remove the drivers side rad. arm if it does come to that. Thanks guys

 

[metalmacguyver]

If your hubs are unlocked and the tcase in 2wd, the front shafts dont turn at all. Since it is occuring then, it cant have anything to do with the front shafts. That resistance that your feeling when turning the front shaft could be indicative of bad ujoints in the front shafts.

I would take a look at your wheel bearings and ball joints to start with.

 

[Sunk]

Before I swapped in the D35, mine did that too. I kinda though it was the shafts vibrating around since all the u-joints were shot, but I never was able to figure it out 100%.

If you do pull the pig, you'll need to remove the driver's side RA from the beam since there is a large bolt that needs clearance to be removed.

 

[Will]

It's the front axle joints, I'm guessing.

 

[97fordrunner]

Kind of embarassed It was a bad inner wheel bearing, will post pics, It froze the inner part of the bearing to the spindle. The rollers were in pretty good shape other than that meaning no pitting or scoring so not really sure what cause the failure. I go thru the front end every few months or after wheeling and clean the bearings and adjust them according to the specs in my service manual. Anyways thats what it is so new bearings and races are in order along with finding a new spindle for the drivers side. Thanks for input guys

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

If you do pull the pig, you'll need to remove the driver's side RA from the beam since there is a large bolt that needs clearance to be removed.

Not necessary, you can grind the head of that bolt into a D shape and then it slips right past the radius arm.