Off camber noise

[spitse]

Not sure where to post this. Went fishing yesterday and was climbing a pond bank and was twisting quite a bit going up the side. I got this very shrill grinding metal sound. Like dragging heavy steal across cement. Not sure where it came from and kind of scared me. Any ides?

I did a 4.0 swap on this truck And never put the skid plate thing back on. Could that be the issue and what made the noise?

 

[straycat]

Best to put it on a lift (or get all four tires off the ground at the houe) and run it in 4x4 and see if something squeals. If not, then it is making the noise under a load and that could be differential issues....wheel bearings, front drive shaft, hub, etc. Have you noticed anything bent or broke up front?

 

[spitse]

Nothing really bent out too much. Had been in an accident before I got it, but not sure how long before. It does have 230k miles on the frame. Drives straight, better than my 08 ram.

Will the problem be obvious or are there tell tail signs to look for?

 

[straycat]

If you don't see anyhing bent or broken then it is something else or put it on a lift. If you hear any grinding noise, there is an issue somewhere. Get the truck off the gound and spin that front end in 4x4. If nothing...put it back on the ground and run it in 4x4 on level ground and then if you don't hear anything then put it on on a hill in 4x4 and try it again. If hear the noise then you know it is happening under a load. Could be a few things....transfercase, bearings/hub area, drive shaft. If you can't figure it out take it to a shop and have them look at it.