"Grinding and Clunk" on hard left turn

[Steve Kluge]

My '92 has standard automatic locking hubs. I get a gear grinding, rachety sound, progressively louder and ending with a "thunk" on a tight or full lock left turn (hubs unlocked, 2wd). The noise seems to coming from the right, but I can't really be sure it's not from the differential. This first happened in bitter cold, but happens all the time now. (It seems to me that the right front hub is locking, and backing up unlocks it again.??)Any suggestions on what to check first? I had the hubs off, they seem to be working, and aren't all gunked up.

 

[ExploreMinnesota]

Check the U-joint on the front axle. They can start to freeze-up when they get older. When they do that and you turn the wheel, the axle may be forces to rotate a bit so the U-joint can bend on the axis that is not frozen. That rotation will cause the front hub to lock in, or partially lock in.

------------------
ExploreMinnesota
91 EB 4x4 Stock