Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) four wheel drive noise

[PaulG]

okay yesterday i was driving in the new snow we just got and i noticed while in traffice that the 4-wheel drive was making this squeeking noise and then when we got up past 40mph and let off it had a decelerating noise. this was bugging me the whole time i was in traffic, then on the way home it seemed to stop and same this morning no noise. Anyone have any idea what this could have been?



i bought this used with 64k on it and i know the guy b-4 me plowed with it even though we bought it from auction we looked under it and saw that it had been plowed with.



i havn't owned a 4-wheel drive with this many miles on it b-4 so not sure what it could be. please help if you can thanks everyone

Paul G.

 

[Steve Campbell]

first thoughts are.....

#1a bad U-joint/wheel joint or... .



#2 (less likely) low oil level in the transfer case.

 

[PaulG]

but now that the sound is gone thats whats confusing me? i mean if it was a bad u-joint wouldn't it only get worse? wheel bearings howl so it's not that.

we have auto hubs which if i'm not mistaken we turn most of the u-joint and everything all the time anyhow so why would it only make noise during 4x4 operation? because of the load? thanks

 

[Steve Campbell]

my experience with "bad" u-joints is......

the worse they get the more often they make noise. If they are just starting to go... . they make noise intermittently.