OK I was driving down street in 4x4. Yes snow on ground. The drive shaft started banging. Like it was binding on a hard turn. I popped it in 2wd and just plowed in 2wd. Banging went away I wasnt plowing in 4x4 I had just left my house only went 2 miles. I went to a few shops that really wanted no part of it. I had the front drive shaft balanced and all 3 U joints replaced about a year ago. But one guy greased it. Before it was greased it would vibrated heavily on highway at 65. After grease the vibration on highway went away. So then I tried it 4x4 but on dry pavement. So I only went about 50 feet and it started to bang again. When It finally snow again, I tried 4x4 and it was considably less banging. But I had to get through day of plowing so I let it be, and plowed in 2wd. Now I went and replaced transfer case fluid. So we got an ice storm last night and I figured ok lets see what happens now. Now I am only getting a slight shudder. And its sporadic. Any thoughts. And I know this isnt issue. But I am going to mention it. I now have a ball joint popping and one of the tires is worn funny.

 

The banging is most likely the chain in the transfer case is streched and jumping teeth on the sprocket. Never drive in 4x4 on dry pavement!

The front drive shaft has a cardon joint and if it is worn it will cause vibrations and if it completly fails it can destroy the transfer case.

 

Why would changing fluid and greasing driveshaft make 90% of issue go away???

And the part between the 2 ujoints up top was replaced.

 

I do not know why changing the fluid and greasing the drive shaft would reduce the banging. Just speculation the grease in the joints could have reduced some binding allowing the drive train to turn easier.

I still think you have a streched chain.

 

I agree. A friend of mine had similar issue on his '04. No noise at all until he put it in 4x4 then all kinds of popping and grinding noises could be heard. The t-case chain was indeed slapping the case and trying to jump teeth.

 

Ok let me clarify. Its Banging. Like drive shaft popped off and hit floor. Or like you cut the wheels hard to right of left in 4x4 while moving.

No grinding noises. Now I just get a like a shuddering in driveshaft. And it only last 5 seconds and went away, Then again when I took a corner about 1/2 mile down road. Got it up on highway in 4x4 no more issues than the usuall slightly rougher ride.

 

Could it be possible that you have sheared the teeth off the sprocket?

 

Still has all the earmarks of a failed t-case chain.......Long live the all gear-driven NP-205 !!!!!!

 

No why would it have stopped after greasing and fluid change. I am going to have to pull driveshaft.

 

If the drive shaft has no movement side to side at each joint and you did not get the banging in 2x4 drive, pulling the drive shaft will not solve your problem.

Someone else on another post said to take out the fill plug and with a screwdriver check the chain for looseness. I do not know if this will work but it might be worth a try. You do need to eliminate the chain as your problem, the symtoms you described except for it not banging after the lub and greasing is almost always a loose chain. If it is not a loose chain, then start looking elsewhere for the noise.

 

I had both U joints up top and the piece between them up top replaced last year at end of season. But now its just a shudder and even that was very brief. I popped oin 4x4 got on a straight road with slush all over it. Pop it into 4x4 and it just shudders for 5 seconds then stopped. i was going maybe 20 mph. So I left it in 4x4 and went another 1/4 mile and took a hard left. It shuddered slighty and went away before coming out of turn. Then proceeded to bring it up to 45 mph and got on highway taking ramp to the right at 30. No more shuddering at all. Go on highway and they were not that bad so I went back to 2wd (I dont like 4x4 at high speeds, vibrates a lil)

So after my the first time it banged before a storm. The next time I got on highway it had lots of vibration at 55mph and 65mph was unbrearble. After greasing joints. All vibration gone. Still banged a bit a though in 4x4. Then after transfer case change of fluids, we down to a shudder. I wil have chain checked. But I am guessing it is in that doubl ujoint set up. One last question. could the very rear ujoint being bad also cause this some how. I had it replaced, Then I lost a clip. So It was kinda screwed up. Could that drive shaft some how being off a bit move transfer case to cuase front to bind? This was also fixed in the mits of these repairs

 

Hopefully you got that clip replaced. You don't want that cap working it's way out out highway speeds....it's a deadly projectile when it comes out.....ask me how I know?????

Yes, if that clip is missing it can cause a severe vibration if the joint cap has backed out at all. With the banging you describe, I still feel like it's a chain issue. If you had severely worn u-joints anywhere in the front driveline you would know. However, if they were only slightly worn, then the new grease is only temporarily taking up the slack, so to speak.

This one has now peaked my interest. Keep us posted on what you find wrong.

 

Yes clip was replaced