Dana 35 "click" noise

[hilltopfarm]

Hello,

I have a question about my 03' ranger 4.0l FX4. I'm pretty sure that the front diff is a Dana 35.

So I've noticed when I first got the truck that I can go underneath and hand turn the front driveshaft and I notice it will turn, then feel like gritty sand or something in gears, then click and thats all it will turn (with the wheels on the ground) The four wheel still works, but is loud which could be my t-case which was screwed up (I'm rebuilding it now).

So my question is this noise normal or if not what might it be an indication of? I really don't want to pull my whole front axle off the truck if I don't have too.

Thanks!

 

[4x4junkie]

The front driveshaft shouldn't turn more than a tiny fraction of a rotation if the wheels are on the ground (like 1/32 of a turn at most).

Do the gears feel gritty when the wheels are off the ground and you can turn it in full rotations?

 

[hilltopfarm]

I'll take a look at that the next time I jack it up. Probably today or tomorrow

Thanks.