My 4 wheel drive worked fine, not issues with it.

I bought a Napa cheap-o for $50, but I don't plan to do much heavy 4x4 usage. I would imagine a spicer to be better, at a cost of coarse.

I took the axle out myself, took it to Napa machine shop for R&R because it was froze on there pretty good. That was $15.

Joel

 

Might want to check the pin that holds the brake caliper on. The rubber boot on the pin backed out on mine, rattled like crazy.

 

But that was back in the late 70s - my 78 W200 ex-Forest Service truck has 250K fulltime 4WD miles on it and my brother's 77 W200 ex-military is over 100K on 3 of the 4 original hubs and u-joints, as far as we know.

Dana 44s up front with 3500? pound ratings - ride like a buckboard but go anywhere (and guzzle gas in the process).

 

Well I had a new axle U-joint installed Monday. Guess what? Didn't change a **** thing!
My truck pretty much has a completely new front end on it. The only thing that has stayed the same is the front shocks and steering stabilizer, all ProComp. I suppose I'll be changing them this weekend. Other than these, everything else is new. I'm praying that something is broken with either of these.

Oh and now that it's 80* outside, my A/C decided to quit working too!!!

Repeat after me: I love my Dodge, I love my Dodge, I love my Dodge!

 

Just venting here...
Pulled the top shock mount off and tried to rock it up and down. No go. Doesn't move in the bottom mount at all. Put bigger washers and rubber mounts on top. Tightened everything as tight as I could. Absolutely no change! Those shocks are fine.
I'm not entirely convinced it's suspension related at all. My mechanic and I have gone over everything. There's nothing rubbing, nothing loose.
I don't know where to go at this point. I really can't sell the truck as anyone who rides in it or drives it, will hear the rattle.

 

I think you already had this sugestion, but did you remove your center caps/hub caps. I had ones that made noise.

 

Now I see you did try an oring, but did you drive with them removed?

 

i had a warped rotor that made a crunching noise at low speed try riding the brake lightly to see if that could be it

 

when the rotor came around it would grab the caliper and make it shutter in on the pins

ps with that rebuilt front end you should sell it to me

 

check all your exhaust mounts to make sure they are not broke. mine was and i thought it was the front end. it drove me nutz until i finally grabbed a hold on the exhaust while the truck was on and pushed it up, sound stopped. just a suggestion.

 

going out on a limb here but could there be something in the tire itself and when your comming to a stop it starts hitting the wheel? Just a suggestion I have never seen or heard of this either just tring help.

 

Thanks everyone for your input. Here's the latest before I put it to rest. Last weekend I replaced the shocks and steering stabilizer, just to be sure. No difference of course. Other then the axel and diff gears. The truck has an entirely new front end. I've come to the conclusion that the sound has nothing to do with the front suspension. The rattle is inconsistant. (sometimes when you're just idling along, making a turn, stopping or if you look at the truck funny).
I did notice that my down pipe has worn away the heat pad on the firewall. But the pipe itself is still plenty solid.



Oh well, I guess I'll just drive it till something breaks. At least I'll finally find out what it was

Perhaps I'll still try that this week.

 

check the u joint, thats what a problem was with noise coming from the front with me

 

I had the same problem on my 92 and it was the U joint drivers side the needle bearings were gone and when you hit a bump the U joint would rattle.