'03 front 4x4 axle binding and popping

MADSCOTSMAN · 02-27-2008, 03:37 PM

I Just bought a used 2003 gmc sierra 4x4 ext. cab with 174,00 kms on it, it is equipped with the old style floor shift for the front axle, when i engaged it this morning after 4 inches of snow overnight, i noticed a binding and popping noise when i turned the wheel to the right or left also a slipping feeling when moving. Any thoughts, this is my first 4x4 but not my first truck.. Thanks.

75K30 · 02-27-2008, 04:20 PM

Noises when 4wd is engaged and the wheels are turned might indicate a bad CV joint.
Inspect the CV shaft, and the joints at both ends for a dry or damaged shaft.
Noise would not happen to be the pass side would it? Just a guess.

MADSCOTSMAN · 02-28-2008, 05:08 AM

I Can't tell which side it is, i jerks unevenly, but is hard to tell with thick snow causeing it to slip/slide. It's snowing again now so i'll get out and play with it, it pulls great going straight. This truck has only 175,000 km or about 100,000 miles on it, i can't see the joints being bad this early, it was a fleet maintained truck owned by the power company and is covered with grease at all the grease fittings. The truck is like brand new inside and out. I bought it at auction for $10,000, about 6,000 off bluebook i'm guessing. so if i have to spend some $$$ on it it's o.k.

jimbo543 · 02-29-2008, 03:09 AM

have seen broken snap ring or worn shift fork pads in t-case cause a very loud snap noise in 4x4 when wheels turn loading the driveline

MADSCOTSMAN · 03-01-2008, 04:54 PM

Well i carried 5 heavy loads of trash to the dump today in 4x4 because of ice and snow, and it was smooth as the ice i was on, no popping, snapping or binding. I Guess a load makes some differance. I Suspect this is the first time this truck has ever worked.

keithr0005005 · 03-02-2008, 08:42 PM

you bought the truck used which means you dont know if someone before you blew the rear and put in one with dif gear ratios. if gears in the front dont match rear you will have a prob which sounds to me like the one you are having.

leolkfrm · 03-02-2008, 09:04 PM

Had the problem with my 91, turned out that when the truck was greased the slide part of the front driveshaft was never done. Pulled it apart (had to use a bar to compress it to get it out) lubed it well and problem went away

MADSCOTSMAN · 03-03-2008, 04:12 AM

The diff. cover has never been off, nothing has been touched other than to grease it and change engine fluids. Despite the mileage the truck is in perfect shape, since it's been good and wet, it stopped doing it, must have had the dry heaves...ha ha.

gmtech · 03-03-2008, 08:47 PM

you maybe feeling the normal 4x4 operation since you say you never had a 4x4 before. when you turn hard left or right on dry payment it can actually stop the vehicle do to the binding of the front aand rear axles since the inside cornering tire wants to move much slower than the outside tire on a turn. So if you just feel some slight binding i would wonder if it is just normal. I would sugest comparing to another freinds chevy 4x4

MADSCOTSMAN · 03-04-2008, 03:56 AM

Thanks GM TECH, I'm beginning to think it is normal too, i see your in Farmville virginia, stop in and say hello to my brother Tom Trevilian at "Farmers cooperative" southern states store.. small world.

02-27-2008, 03:37 PM	#1
MADSCOTSMAN Full Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: NOVA SCOTIA Posts: 13	'03 front 4x4 axle binding and popping I Just bought a used 2003 gmc sierra 4x4 ext. cab with 174,00 kms on it, it is equipped with the old style floor shift for the front axle, when i engaged it this morning after 4 inches of snow overnight, i noticed a binding and popping noise when i turned the wheel to the right or left also a slipping feeling when moving. Any thoughts, this is my first 4x4 but not my first truck.. Thanks.

03-02-2008, 09:04 PM	#7
leolkfrm Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: N.Y. Posts: 4,300	Binding front axle Had the problem with my 91, turned out that when the truck was greased the slide part of the front driveshaft was never done. Pulled it apart (had to use a bar to compress it to get it out) lubed it well and problem went away

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02-27-2008, 04:20 PM	#2
75K30 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,992	Noises when 4wd is engaged and the wheels are turned might indicate a bad CV joint. Inspect the CV shaft, and the joints at both ends for a dry or damaged shaft. Noise would not happen to be the pass side would it? Just a guess.

02-28-2008, 05:08 AM	#3
MADSCOTSMAN Full Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: NOVA SCOTIA Posts: 13	I Can't tell which side it is, i jerks unevenly, but is hard to tell with thick snow causeing it to slip/slide. It's snowing again now so i'll get out and play with it, it pulls great going straight. This truck has only 175,000 km or about 100,000 miles on it, i can't see the joints being bad this early, it was a fleet maintained truck owned by the power company and is covered with grease at all the grease fittings. The truck is like brand new inside and out. I bought it at auction for $10,000, about 6,000 off bluebook i'm guessing. so if i have to spend some $$$ on it it's o.k.

02-29-2008, 03:09 AM	#4
jimbo543 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: MN Posts: 205	have seen broken snap ring or worn shift fork pads in t-case cause a very loud snap noise in 4x4 when wheels turn loading the driveline

03-01-2008, 04:54 PM	#5
MADSCOTSMAN Full Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: NOVA SCOTIA Posts: 13	Well i carried 5 heavy loads of trash to the dump today in 4x4 because of ice and snow, and it was smooth as the ice i was on, no popping, snapping or binding. I Guess a load makes some differance. I Suspect this is the first time this truck has ever worked.

03-02-2008, 08:42 PM	#6
keithr0005005 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 156	you bought the truck used which means you dont know if someone before you blew the rear and put in one with dif gear ratios. if gears in the front dont match rear you will have a prob which sounds to me like the one you are having.

03-03-2008, 04:12 AM	#8
MADSCOTSMAN Full Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: NOVA SCOTIA Posts: 13	The diff. cover has never been off, nothing has been touched other than to grease it and change engine fluids. Despite the mileage the truck is in perfect shape, since it's been good and wet, it stopped doing it, must have had the dry heaves...ha ha.

03-03-2008, 08:47 PM	#9
gmtech Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: farmville Va Posts: 348	you maybe feeling the normal 4x4 operation since you say you never had a 4x4 before. when you turn hard left or right on dry payment it can actually stop the vehicle do to the binding of the front aand rear axles since the inside cornering tire wants to move much slower than the outside tire on a turn. So if you just feel some slight binding i would wonder if it is just normal. I would sugest comparing to another freinds chevy 4x4

03-04-2008, 03:56 AM	#10
MADSCOTSMAN Full Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: NOVA SCOTIA Posts: 13	Thanks GM TECH, I'm beginning to think it is normal too, i see your in Farmville virginia, stop in and say hello to my brother Tom Trevilian at "Farmers cooperative" southern states store.. small world.