So when im backing out of my driveway and I make a sharp turn steering all the way locked to the left, sometimes right my truck starts to hop alittle like its in 4 wheel drive it makes a poppimg sound too. It doesnt do it as much going foward. I've had it jacked up with the wheels off and everything seems fine.

Has anyone had the cv's go bad on they're lowered 4x4, or awd truck? it has 83,000 miles on it suspension mods are belltech spindles and drop keys its about 3" lower than stock.

 

One of the cv's could be binding if it's been at an extreme angle, but I haven't heard of any guys having that problem yet. The bearing retainers are known to break in the front diff causing the diff to rock around and eat the bearings and I believe the gears also. I currently have this problem, my front diff howls and I got a ton of metal on the drain plug upon inspection. It's my understanding that the front driveshaft spins at all times with the autotrak transfercase, so a front diff problem may be the issue, if it were shifting or binding...not saying this is your problem, but throwing another idea at ya...

 

yeah it could be a diff problem for sure. no howling or grinding though. Do you know if the manual transfercase spins the front driveshaft all the time too? If i recall right it does, but I can't remember. My cv's dont seem like they are at too extreme of an angle. maybe they are just worn out.

 

I'm not sure about the manual transfercase...if nobody here posts up about it, you could always put the truck up on jack stands and run it...just make sure to leave your driver's side window down if your truck automatically locks at 15mph like mine does...ask me how I know

 

what happens when it locks at 15mph?? hope it didn't fall off the jackstands.

 

No, nothing like that...the wheels were turning and the doors locked, and when I was done diagnosing the noise I went to open the driver's door and realized that I was locked out. I had to have my wife bring me my spare keys (I wasn't at home, I was working in the in-law's driveway and my keys were at home, and my slim jim to "break in" is at work). Wouldn't have been a problem if I had left the window open.

Wasn't a big deal, but the truck kept running for about a half an hour on jack stands while I waited for the keys...then on the way home my trans blew...what a day.

 

It sounds like you have the steering knuckles against the steering stops, then you hit a bump. I bet it sounds pretty terrible.

Crawl under there and grease the steering stops before you try anything else. With any luck, it will be this simple.

I have 140K miles on my original cv axles(lowered 4x4), and launch it hard in 4x4 all the time.

 

Didn't think of that...used to have that problem with the Toyota trucks all of the time (they have plastic caps on their steering stops that either wear out or fall off)

 

Oh okay it locks the doors. lol... I have manual locks, but yeah that would be an interesting day. Thanks guys for your help I'll get under there in the am to grease the steering stops and see if that cures the problem.