Front end growl and vibration

[PEAR0119]

Hey guys, I am having an issue with dads 2003 Explorer 4x4 that seems to have developed a nasty front end growl and vibration when in coast. We are suspecting that it might possibly be the CV Joint in the front driveshaft (Which is at the transfercase end). Would it be safe and/or even possible to disconnect and remove the front driveshaft and take it for a drive and see if it continues to growl and vibrate? If not is there any other possible way that we can figure out if it is in fact the front driveshaft without just replacing it in hopes that it fixes the issue.

 

[Newfy Trac]

I've to the same growl/vibration and was just searching to see if I could pull the driveshaft out and test it.

Good luck. btw I have 03 Sport Trac

 

[PEAR0119]

We ended up deciding to pull out the front driveshaft and take it for a drive to see what it does. Once out on the road we noticed the same noise without any change so we pretty much eliminated the front end and front driveshaft being the root cause. We then proceeded to put the front driveshaft back in and take the rear shaft out. We took the rear driveshaft out and put the truck in 4x4 high and went for another drive. This time we noticed that all vibration/noises are now completely gone. Since then we have replaced the rear driveshaft (Which eliminated about 90% of the noise), but we are still getting a slight vibration/noise at higheway speeds. Now we are attempting to figure out if the remaining noise is coming from the front DS, the fact the the rear DS is out of phase or if there is something else in the rear end that needs to be addressed

 

[Jasonx521]

Did you ever figure out what else was causing the vibration? I have a 2000 that shows he same symptoms. I replaced the rear driveline also. If removed, the vibration is gone. The rear end is rebuilt as well....

I checked the vertical operating angles and are sitting at 0.5 degrees equal and opposite. Im not sure with the horizontal op angles. The only things i can think of: i changed motor and trans mounts, check horizontal angles and the transfer case and transmission was rebuilt 6 months ago, maybe a problem with them