Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Went for a drive on sunday and there is a loud noise coming from somewhere around my front drive line. The noise is kind of like a diff missing teeth, but it is doing it in 2 wheel drive aswell, hubs locked and unlocked (therefore not the diff?). The noise only appears when climbing rocks etc and when I give it a bit of mumbo It never occurs on the road. It has been doing it for a while now, but is getting louder and more frequent.
Does anyone have any idea what it could be or had similar probs?
Thanks, Pete

Bearings??

Are your hubs actually disengadging? somtimes they get all dirty and lock in?

Ill pull some of your front end apart (hubs etc) and have a look!?

Thanks bezerk....not quite sure about the hubs, only drove about 100m with them unlocked offroad. I took it to a mechanic today and he couldn't even get it to make the noise. I'll pull the hubs apart and have a look.

hey I bet its the a/c idler pulley bearing ....
cost u about $70 to get fixed by a mechanic

Check the chain in the transfer case, I had to replace mine recently. It made no or little noise for driving and light 4wd, as soon as I gave it some pedal up hills it sounded like it was trying to destroy something. The noise carried forward and was difficult to pickup until I had a mate stand next to the vehicle as i climbed some rocks. Cost about $700 to replace.

Check that your radiator fan is not contacting the shroud. There will be evidence that the fan blades are shortening. The engine mounts can wear and the engine will torque over in low range on steep climbs. If so, replace the faulty engine mount.

Also pull your hubs out and service them. Should do this anyway, only takes 30mins.

Thanks Timo.....It did end up being the fan hitting the shroud, and I have since fixed the problem. It was caused by the body lift - they lifted the body and not the radiator

no worries Pete. Its an aweful noise, but at least it easy to fix.