Front end noise

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Fjordlander

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2022
Posts
99
Reaction score
38
Location
USA
First Name
Kyle
Truck Year
1976
Truck Model
Scottsdale K10
Engine Size
V8
Okay. That's your axle Shaft U-joint. The pinion yoke is where your front axle meets the front driveshaft. With full time hubs your front end is always spinning everything, even in 2wd. I'm guessing it's your front driveshaft because it wasn't making the sound before the lift kit install. Remove front driveshaft and see if the sound goes away.
Okay thanks. I'll try that and see what happens
 

Fjordlander

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2022
Posts
99
Reaction score
38
Location
USA
First Name
Kyle
Truck Year
1976
Truck Model
Scottsdale K10
Engine Size
V8
Okay. That's your axle Shaft U-joint. The pinion yoke is where your front axle meets the front driveshaft. With full time hubs your front end is always spinning everything, even in 2wd. I'm guessing it's your front driveshaft because it wasn't making the sound before the lift kit install. Remove front driveshaft and see if the sound goes away.
I removed the front driveshaft but now my truck won't move at all.. She'll roll in neutral but no driving forward or reverse. Any idea what that means? I was under the impression that removing the front shaft would just give me a rear wheel drive truck
 

legopnuematic

Licensed Junk Dealer
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2016
Posts
2,466
Reaction score
6,299
Location
MO
First Name
Spencer
Truck Year
1971, 1̶9̶7̶4, 1976, 1979,1̶9̶8̶5, 2002
Truck Model
Dart Swinger, Sierra 10, C10 Cheyenne, C10 Big Ten, Silverado 10, Ram 2500
Engine Size
225/6, 350 c.i., 350 c.i., 5.9l Cummins
Since it's a full-time 203, you need to put the shifter into Hi-Loc, in Hi range, it is like an open differential, since you removed the front driveshaft it is putting 100% power to the front output as it has no resistance.
 

Fjordlander

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2022
Posts
99
Reaction score
38
Location
USA
First Name
Kyle
Truck Year
1976
Truck Model
Scottsdale K10
Engine Size
V8
Since it's a full-time 203, you need to put the shifter into Hi-Loc, in Hi range, it is like an open differential, since you removed the front driveshaft it is putting 100% power to the front output as it has no resistance.
Thank you! I thought I was in Hi-Loc cause it felt like the end but I just had to pull super hard.
The truck drives now and there are no weird sounds so it was definitely the front drive shaft. Is there a chance it could be the u-joints or do you think I need a whole new drive shaft?
 

AuroraGirl

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2019
Posts
9,693
Reaction score
6,867
Location
Northern Wisconsin
First Name
Taylor
Truck Year
1978, 1980
Truck Model
K10, K25
Engine Size
400(?), 350
I put the truck on jack stands to see if the front diff was working and it is but the rear wheels started spinning instantly whereas the front was delayed and much slower. Is that normal or is something up with my diff?
if you werent in LOC then having a slight delay itself may not be an issue but the speed difference may not be odd.. you had all 4 in the air right? If you put it in LOC then you would get matched speeds?
 

AuroraGirl

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2019
Posts
9,693
Reaction score
6,867
Location
Northern Wisconsin
First Name
Taylor
Truck Year
1978, 1980
Truck Model
K10, K25
Engine Size
400(?), 350
Since it's a full-time 203, you need to put the shifter into Hi-Loc, in Hi range, it is like an open differential, since you removed the front driveshaft it is putting 100% power to the front output as it has no resistance.
Lets say he kept the driveshaft off it, could one drive it normally in hi loc or would that be super stressful on the case?
 

75gmck25

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2016
Posts
2,254
Reaction score
2,193
Location
Northern Virginia
First Name
Bruce
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
K25 Camper Special TH350 NP203
Engine Size
5.7
My truck with NP203 started making loud clicking noises (not a clunk), and it turned out to be the u-joints (rusted, roller bearings had metal in metal) and the centering yoke in the front driveshaft CV joint.

The CV joint has a spring-loaded centering yoke in between the u-joints, and it keeps the joint parts in alignment as the driveshaft turns. It can wear down, spring can break, etc, and then the joint does not turn smoothly. It did not feel loose when installed, but the damage was very clear when I took it apart.

IIRC, I got the new sealed u-joints and the centering yoke from RockAuto because it was the cheapest source. Easy job to disassemble and replace parts once I got the driveshaft off.
 

legopnuematic

Licensed Junk Dealer
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2016
Posts
2,466
Reaction score
6,299
Location
MO
First Name
Spencer
Truck Year
1971, 1̶9̶7̶4, 1976, 1979,1̶9̶8̶5, 2002
Truck Model
Dart Swinger, Sierra 10, C10 Cheyenne, C10 Big Ten, Silverado 10, Ram 2500
Engine Size
225/6, 350 c.i., 350 c.i., 5.9l Cummins
Let’s say he kept the driveshaft off it, could one drive it normally in hi loc or would that be super stressful on the case?
Looking it up, it seems some say it’s not a big deal, others say it’s hard on, and can wear the lock pins in the case? So pretty much the normal internet answers lol.

I suspect that overall condition and driving style/usage play into this significantly.
 

Fjordlander

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2022
Posts
99
Reaction score
38
Location
USA
First Name
Kyle
Truck Year
1976
Truck Model
Scottsdale K10
Engine Size
V8
if you werent in LOC then having a slight delay itself may not be an issue but the speed difference may not be odd.. you had all 4 in the air right? If you put it in LOC then you would get matched speeds?
Yeah I had all 4 up in the air but I didn't try it in Loc. Once I replace the u-joints in the front driveshaft I'll test it in Loc and see
 

Fjordlander

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2022
Posts
99
Reaction score
38
Location
USA
First Name
Kyle
Truck Year
1976
Truck Model
Scottsdale K10
Engine Size
V8
My truck with NP203 started making loud clicking noises (not a clunk), and it turned out to be the u-joints (rusted, roller bearings had metal in metal) and the centering yoke in the front driveshaft CV joint.

The CV joint has a spring-loaded centering yoke in between the u-joints, and it keeps the joint parts in alignment as the driveshaft turns. It can wear down, spring can break, etc, and then the joint does not turn smoothly. It did not feel loose when installed, but the damage was very clear when I took it apart.

IIRC, I got the new sealed u-joints and the centering yoke from RockAuto because it was the cheapest source. Easy job to disassemble and replace parts once I got the driveshaft off.
I took all the u-joints out but I didn't see a spring anywhere so that must have broken and fallen off or something. I'll look into ordering a new centering yoke
 

Fjordlander

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2022
Posts
99
Reaction score
38
Location
USA
First Name
Kyle
Truck Year
1976
Truck Model
Scottsdale K10
Engine Size
V8
All u-joints and the centering yoke have been replaced and the noise is gone!
When I got the old centering yoke off, the spring was broken into a few pieces and the part was pretty worn in general. Thank you all for your help!
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
44,103
Posts
949,405
Members
36,203
Latest member
Rolf
Top