Hey Guys, this is my situation. I was leaving the auto wreckers today picking up parts for another vehicle and I put my blazer (1998 S-10) into 4 hi because there was a fair amount of snow and ice. As I am pulling out of the yard I hear this grinding noise. I take my foot off the gas and it stops....then I begin to drive again....hit a little more snow and the clicking begins again along with a string of choice words.

I get back home and play a bit in my drive way moving back and forth in lo and hi (there is a fair amount of snow in my drive way) and if I get into the deepers stuff it begins to grind again. I jumped out and had my wife driving it back & forth; from what I can see the the axel is turning and when it hits the resistance it stops moving and grinds. The noise seems only to be coming from the passenger side.

It makes me think either the 4x4 isn't engaging properly or I need new axel. Any assistance you could render would be most appreciated.

 

It sounds like the front axle engagement cable is out of adjustment, or there is some type of problem with the vacuum servo (under the battery tray). Check the cable first, it is adjustable (you don't get alot of adjustment) by turning thenut on the end that hooks to the front axle housing. It seems to me that a weak vacuum supply would also cause this, so make sure you have adequate vacuum, and all the hosesand tankare ok.

 

I pulled battery tray out today to check the vaccum..that works fine. The cable is good, but it looks like is thatthe it is unable to lock in. If you pull the cable really hard the diff will lock....kinda. So it looks like I will have to pull the front end appart to get a good look at the problem.

 

Maybe a stretched cable?

 

I am not a doctor, but the cable seemed fine to me. I am not sure how things in the front diff work but I really think the problem is in there. Here is another detail that may help in the diagnosis. A week earlier I accidently left it in 4 hi when I got back on the hiway and drove for about 20 minutes at 110 km/h. So I think perhaps I really messed something up!