Noise/Vibration when driving in 2wd with hubs locked

[holeshot]

Since its cold and snowy now, I have been leaving my hubs locked in so whenever I need 4wd I dont have to get out of my Bronco II when I get in a slippery situation. Normally in the summer I always leave the hubs unlocked unless I am doing some wheeling.

However, I have noticed a noise when driving on the road in 2wd, but my hubs are locked. The faster I go, the faster/higher pitched the sound gets.

Could this be a bad u-joint?? Bad hubs??

I have a 1990 Bronco II. factory hubs, D35, BW1350.

Thanks!

 

[scotts90ranger]

get underneith and start grabbing stuff, if it's got the slip joint for the front shaft in the transfer case like mine, grab the rear of the front shaft and move it up and down, mine moves like 1/2", needless to say I can't drive on the highway with the hubs locked in anymore...

I would say it's either that or a bad U joint somewhere

 

[holeshot]

thanks man....i will try that out.

 

[Capt Jay]

My vote is u-joint.

 

[legoms013]

I'd say check what you can, but it might be nothing.

Mine makes a slight whirring noise that gets more hi pitched as I go faster, but Its just the ring and pinion....if you think about it the front drivetrain probably has 1/100 of the miles that the rear has and so all that stuff up front is basically brand new. In my case its not even really broke in (the joys of CA cars).