I started to feel a low growl coming from the front end this morning. It occurs in a narrow speed band; 65-70. I can feel it throught the steering wheel and the seat. The vibration it steady in frequency (growl), but seems to get stronger or lesser as the suspension is compressed or relieved as going over humps or depressions in the highway (not bumps). Any guesses? I'm wondering if it concerns the front propeller shaft, but there are no fluid leaks in that area. Bearings maybe?

 

Do you have any lift on your truck? It doesn't appear so, but I'd check your front driveline universals. If that doesn't pan out, check to make sure the front axle disconnect is fully disconnected.

Sounds to me like the front driveline.....

 

No lift. I do a lot (90%) of straight, highway driving. Wondering if the bearings were lube starved. Diff level is where it should be, but I don't know if it puts the lube level above the axle tube. Will check your other suggestions.

 

That's why I always overfill the diffs. If you use a good lube, it won't foam. And the axles seals and bearings stay happy for sure.

Justin

 

Bearings growl, gears whine. Sounds like bearings to me...

 

Wheel bearings ~ Axle ujoints ~ Front drive shaft

Those are your three choices.

 

Thanks for your suggestions. I removed the hub covers after a 40 mile interstate commute and felt the hubs. Cool... Crawled under and grabbed the front shaft. I couldn't descern any wiggle or looseness. Decided to call dealer and made appointment for Friday. Any of the 3 are beyond my amateur wrenching abilities anyway. Hopefully, it will be covered by the 7/100K drivetrain warranty.

 

Do you have the front vacumm axle disconnect? I'm asking because DC discontinued that in '02 but used what remaining axles they had untill they were gone then switched to the solid housing. If yours is solid then you are probably feeling the front u-joints going bad. For whatever reason DC changed the font axle design for '02 and it can cause trouble.

 

02DSLDOG and Katoom get the ceegar! I got one of them axles. : Full time rotating propeller shaft. It was a bad U joint. Drivetrain warranty covered it with a $100 deductable. Thanks for the input!

 

[quote author=Commatoze link=board=4;threadid=22520;start=0#msg212471 date=1069445099]
02DSLDOG and Katoom get the ceegar! I got one of them axles. : Full time rotating propeller shaft. It was a bad U joint. Drivetrain warranty covered it with a $100 deductable. Thanks for the input!
[/quote]

Would it have been no deductable if you were under the 36K miles?

phox

 

Yes phox, there would have been no charge had it been prior to 36K.

 

I'm getting close to hitting that mark.

Time to start looking and listening for things to get fixed before then.
(although, my lift most likely voids most of the drivetrain stuff :'( )


phox