Lots of noise coming from my front end

[kyler]

so after nemo dumped 25" of snow on me the truck took a beating trying to keep up with it....i have a 2002 7.3 with warn hubs. When i lock the hubs i head a squeaking sounds like a u-joint, but the previous owner claims that they were done. anyway....i also get a clunking when i throw it into 4x4. I am thinking that is the u-joints on the driveshaft...which should be an easy fix. however, the one with the hubs lock is throwing me off, if it were wheel bearings, wouldn't it do it all the time? same for ball joints? u-joints in the axle are the only thing moving when the hubs are engaged right? help me out with this guys. and again they are pretty different sounds. when just the hubs are engaged its the squeak noise and when 4x4 is engaged it is a clunk, only when i give it gas and there seems to be a load on the drive train. if i am coasting down a hill it won't clunk.

[kyler]

anyone? I have researched and read that the front driveshaft ford uses isn't serviceable? is this true? I am still not sure if it is the CV joint at the t-case or the joint at the axle...hopefully i'll have it pulled. But if it not serviceable, i'll just have to order a new one...could the clunking be coming from the tcase? i hope not :/

[catlinB]

There serviceable. But if neglected for a long time the little ball inside the cv will wear the nipple making the driveshaft scrap. Happened to me. You may also want to check the u joints in the axle. Mine would squeak when hubs were locked in no four wheel engaged. Replaced them when I done ball joints


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[kyler]

thanks man. I did some more research and looked thru the previous owner service records and all the ujoints/ball joints/and axle seals have been replaced 20-40K miles ago (two different service trips) plus the ujoint in the axle look good with no play. I have not been able to mess with the driveshaft yet, but those ujoints have never been touched. So i am thinking that is it. I have tomorrow of so I am going to try and pick up all my parts tonight and pull the driveshaft tonight and start on it tonight and finish it tomorrow. Hopefully it is the ujoints and not the centering ball. Anyway, I am thinking it is my driveshaft because i read that once the hubs are locked the driveshaft spins....leads me to think the noises are that.

[kyler]

Well guys, I crawled under the truck today, the Cardin joint seems to be the squeak and the clunk seems to be the slip yoke...tomorrow morning I will pull the driveshaft and grease the slip yoke...carrier bearing seems ok minus the squeak...we will see