Transfer Case noises

**ippielb** · 02-24-2009, 02:30 PM

Yesterday my dad drove me into the city so i could go in to see the doctor, and we took my truck. It was snowing / freezing rain so my dad had it in auto 4wd, and then 4x4 when we got into the city. We turned into the parking lot of the doctors office, and there was a lower pitch noise that kind of sounded like grinding coming from under the truck kind of towards the front of the vehicle. I'm assuming its the transfer case, because it only does the noise when it was in 4x4, it stopped making the noise when my dad took it out of it. Then today, i drove the truck, and we just got around 4 inches of powder snow, and driving down the gravel road 2wd would put me sideways if i got going any speed. So i shifted into neutral going around 60km'h, almost as if i hit the brakes the snow stopped me dead before i could put it in 4x4, so i basically stopped in the middle of the road and put it in 4wd. Then i put it back in drive and it made the grinding noise again. Does anyone have any ideas what could be happening? It never did the noise before, and it just started yesterday when my dad drove it.

Thanks

**jim1958** · 02-24-2009, 11:12 PM

Sounds like you just bought about a $ 1300.00 dollar transfer case, sorry. If you push the buttons going down the road, it ain`t pretty

**ippielb** · 02-25-2009, 08:54 AM

Sorry, i fixed my post, it didn't make much sense.

**Springthing** · 02-25-2009, 09:42 AM

As far as I understand it you should be able to **** into 4wd while driving and don't necessarily have to be stopped to do so nor do you have to put it in neutral.

As for the noise... I really am out of my depths here but my first thought would be about the fluid levels in everything.

Anyone else..?..

**MrShorty** · 02-25-2009, 10:57 AM

I wouldn't assume just yet that it's from the transfer case. Transfer case is more in the middle of the vehicle, rather than in the front (but that doesn't necessarily mean much because power train noises have a way of traveling). Where the noise only occurs in 4wd, I'd check those things that are engaged/loaded in 4wd, like front driveshaft u-joints, front diff bearings, CV joints in the axleshafts, etc. I might start by lifting the front end off the ground, crawling underneath, and turning a few things by hand to see if I could pin down where the noise is coming from.

**ippielb** · 02-25-2009, 03:56 PM

I'm going to get the fluid level checked.

**bry2500** · 02-25-2009, 04:14 PM

I have a similar noise and it was mentioned to me that because I have different manufacturer tires front and rear they are not truly the same size. I get a clunking and slight grinding noise when in 4wd and turning. just throwing another sugestion out there. If I find the post I'll link it for you.

**maw454** · 02-25-2009, 06:13 PM

i would check the front end for before wasting time at the transfer. deffently around the cv's and see about the spider gears and fluid levels

**ippielb** · 02-26-2009, 04:15 PM

100% sure its the transfer case now. Took it into my shop and got a buddy to listen while i put it in 4x4, he said it's the transfer case. But shockingly it's not making the grinding anymore. It's just making a little louder humm then usual. I'm going to get my transfer case fluids checked out as soon as i can get into the city. Is it bad to use 4x4 right now? Because we just got a foot of snow, and my roads aren't plowed yet.