hey guys, new to the forum and already impressed with the info i've found here

i have a 2000 ranger 4x4, 4.0 auto, 210 k on it.....when i put in in 4 high it makes a grinding noise....i've only owned the truck about 2 months now and it is progressively worse, to the point this week where i think i'll need to take it in....any ideas what this mgiht be?

it doesn't seem to be as bad in 4 low

i'm not the most knowledgeable truck guy but have managed to do most of my own repairs on other vehicles....any input or where to look would be greatly appreciated

thanks

 

when does it do it?
are you on dry asphalt?
is it the factory 4wd on the dash or on the floor?
also what gearing do you have?

 

on dry asphalt, wet, dirt roads, any time....i live in the boonies in the mountains...does it no matter where i drive....at first it was a minor audible grinding noise...this past week it's become much worse

factory on the fly on the dash....not sure about gearing, whatever would be stock

 

its definitely going to have some bind on dry pavement so don't use it there. does the sound come from the front or directly under you? it could be the transfer case or a CV on its way out, those usually make a clicking sound not a grinding noise. can you feel it?

 

t case is shot ive had the same thing happen to me 2 times now you could rebuild the t case but its just cheaper to go get one out of a juck yard

 

at first i could only hear it...this week i can feel the vibration and it's bad enough i haven't tried to push it past 50km or so....

 

if it was his transfer case would 4x4 low still work without grinding ?

 

mine is clunking too, sounds/feels like a chain is skipping on a sprocket. i guess i gotta pull the t-case out of mine too and see what the hell is going on. mine does it in 4hi and 4low.

 

swap a manual T-case, if it's not already

 

You sure its not your hubs. Bad bearings can make all kinds of noise.

 

check the tcase fluid? diff fluids too

 

I'd check hubs first, noise more up front or under you? Have someone listen if you're not sure.

 

hmm on my truck 4 low works fine, but when in high it will pop out then strart to make a grining sound then it will go back in 4 high and will continue to pop as i acclerate

 

To me it sounds like hubs,mine did that when it went out made all kinds of noise.

 

jack up all four wheels of the vehicle (if you feel comfortable doing this) and put it in 4x4 and listen with a stethoscope under the vehicle to pinpoint the noise..it could be tcase, front driveshaft, front axle, cv axles or hubs. check the front end for play, spin the front wheels one at a time to see if they make noise. check the tcase fluid. if you remove the fill plug and alot of fluid comes out (auto trans only) the tcase has to be removed to replace the front seal anyway, might as well open the case and see if anything is worn

 

My 4x4 has been making grinding sounds like that as well, just when i'm in 4wd. It sounds like I'm dragging something under the truck. i haven't gotten the chance to take a look at it.

 

I! Having the same problem I have a 97 ranger 5 speed some thought they could convert it over from from the switch to locking hubs just by putting on locking hubs. So I have to get out lock in the hubs and get back in and turn the switch to 4wd hi. It's working but the grinding noise sounds terrible. I'll try some of your suggestions.