my 97 5.7v8 petrol sub is making an awful noise in 2wd, jacked up the back - in 2wd - put it into drive, the noise is coming from the front propshaft occasionally turning (assume it isn't acting on the diff as the truck doesn't lurch forward. On the road it does not make the sound when in 4wd.


is the front shaft supposed to turn in 2wd?


if it isn't I am guessing the problem is in the transfer case.

I am right in thinking I should not drive on the road with 4wd permanently engaged because of transmission wind up.

best short term solution to remove the front prop?

thanks for any help

 

We call them driveshafts here in the US, but prop is as good. Yes, you should pull the front driveshaft until you can repair your vehicle. Yes.driving for a long time in 4WD on a hard, dry surface is not a good thing at all. I'd jack up the front axle and pull the front differential cover off first to have a look-see. If it all looks good, you likely have a transfer case problem.

Back in the day, when 4WD vehicles had locking hubs, all you would need to do is keep them unlocked, but no one wants to get out and turn the *****, so the vehicle manufacturers have done away with manual locking hubs.

 

forever divided by a common language

thx for the reply looks like my weekend is sorted then. will check out the diff and pull the driveshaft.