Front End Help

[trooperbrett]

Hey all,
I got some good advice last year on the engine misfire, so I hope you can help this year with the front end.
About a month ago I noticed a growl coming form the passenger side front, thought maybe it was wheel bearings so I tried to take the hubs off but can't get the 8mm allen head bolts out (any suggestions?). Then I jacked up the front wheel to see if I could feel some play in the bearings, like I do on my VW Bug, and noticed when I rotate the wheel the CV joint and axle going back to the transfer case move too! Is this supposed to happen? I thought the hubs automajically released from the drivetrain?!? I drove it and checked that it's not in TOD, 4WD and it's not. So, why would the CV's and axle still be connected to the hubs? Could this be the sourse of the growling noise?

Thanks,
Brett

[rodeo02]

The half-shafts will rotate along with the tires unless you install a set of manual lock-out hubs. Everything rotates up to the front diff (AKA- third member), but the front driveshaft wont spin in 4x2 due to the open (non-posi)front diff. You should be able to free wheel the front drive shaft by hand with the truck in 4x2 mode. You will need to get an impact screw driver from sears, harbor freight or the likes, or get one of those stripped screw head extractors. I've never had to do one of these, but I guess you usually wind up trashing those screws.

G/luck
Joel