odd suspension? brake? differential? problem

[Timmers]

I have been waiting a week to get the fellah that normally works on my truck to have a look at it ( he is worth waiting for )

But I thought I would post and see if anyone has any ideas what might be wrong with it.

It is a 2001 ZR2 Ext Cab with 20,000 kms on it and started to make a metal to metal clang when I approached a light and sometimes on a corner at low speed.

In the last couple of days it has gotten worse and I can hear what sounds like the tire rubbing against something ( squeeking rubber dragging sound ) with the weels turned to the right and then it is like I have the brakes on until I get the loud metal to metal clang again and it frees up and works good for a bit, until I turn the wheels the right way or put my foot on the brake the right way.

Not sure if it is brakes, suspension or front axle.

Any ideas ?

Tim

[BlazerLT]

Sounds liek a combination of a bad cat and the u-joints need replacing for the rear drive shaft.

Put the vehicle in 4hi and see if the sound goes away.

Also, is the sound towards the back or the front?

[Timmers]

Originally Posted by BlazerLT

Sounds liek a combination of a bad cat and the u-joints need replacing for the rear drive shaft.

Put the vehicle in 4hi and see if the sound goes away.

Also, is the sound towards the back or the front?

Both the rubber dragging sound and metal to metal clang come from the drivers side front and the clang can be felt in the floor pan, half way between the pedals and seat, right by the door sill.

I have stopped the truck when it binds up and gotten out under the truck but can not see anything.

The clang is more consistent and louder in 4 wheel drive with a personal plow on it ( so with weight on the front 280 LBs) , but I have not tried it on 4 hi without the plow on yet.

It will do it with the wheels turned to the right without the brakes applied, and it will do it sometimes when I pulling up to a red light going straight and just before I stop, so what seems to be consistent is that it happens or happens more often when there is weight transfer to the front end.

The more weight on the front end, the harder it binds and the louder it clangs.

Tim

[BlazerLT]

Get it to a mechanic and have the front differential and the transfer case checked.

[vtmecheng]

check your front CV joints. When they go bad they can make anything from a grinding to a clanking noise. This would also account for your binding. The extra weight of the plow would also have an effect on the CV joints because they will be moved to a new operating position. Check the rubber boots around the CV joints and with the truck jacked up try turning the wheels by hand while someone slowly turns the steering wheel right and left. See if you can replicate the noise. Good luck.

[NaKeDZX]

How about the sway bar bushings/pins? Mine went bad and caused a banging noise. Easy to check by yourself. The end of the pin broke right off on mine, so the sway bar was just floating out there. Yours doesn't have very many miles on it though??