Problem U-Joints???

[sta500666]

I think my u-joints are bad in my front axle, I came home from school for the summer to find my little brother had forgoten he'd left my blazer in four wheel drive the last several times he was driving it. So now when I put it in four wheel drive and make a turn, left or right, I get a lot of clinking noises out of the frount end and even a little tire squeel with some hopping around.

Is this a sign of bad u-joints or bad gears in my front diff.??

 

[MattK]

Both of these problems are possible to check for yourself. The ujoints are easy. Be sure the truck is in 2wd, hubs unlocked...check the axle and driveshaft joints for play. If there is none, I'd pull the cover on the front axle and see what things look like in there.

If its neither of these, I've heard about driving in 4x4 on dry pavement fragging transfer cases (even saw one pic of one split in half).

And don't let your brother drive your truck anymore! lol

 

[sta500666]

Well I dont thing its the transfer case, because I had my dad out side listening to see where the problem was coming from and it was deffinatly the front axle area. How would I go about checking for play in the axle and u-joint? just stick my fingers in there and turning it?