Hi folks, I have a 98 LT 4x4 Blazer with the 3 button switch on the dash that is acting weird again... I hear a grinding, rubbing, hum kinda sound coming from the front passenger side tire. I had the hub assembly replaced a year ago give or take and all was well until now. Does a hub go bad that fast? I don't go off roading or anything like that and I only drive like 3 miles to and from work usually. Another thing that has me puzzled is it dosen't make the sound in 4hi or 4lo just in 2hi... If the hub went bad again wouldn't it make the sound no matter what range I am in??? I am no mechanic by any means and before I go throwing money into this issue I would love to hear what you more advanced guys and gals think? Thanks for any thoughts and ideas on this

 

If the hub has gone bad, then I would think you could feel it by spinning the wheel by hand with that wheel jacked up off the ground. A poor quality part could wear out fast but I've never heard of this happening so fast.

There there is a gear engagement mechanism that is located near the middle to passenger side of the front axle that can wear. I don't have any first-hand experience with that part. It is part of the mechanism that engages the front axle for 4wd. That the noise went away in 4wd made me think this could be related.

Maybe someone else can offer some other ways to diagnose what is going on.

 

Thanks for the input Quick update, my son in law replaced the wheel hub assembly this afternoon with a new one I bought from Autozone... He took it for a test drive and said it definately sounded like the hub went bad. He also said I need the upper ball joint replaced which we are doing tomorrow morning. At the present, the noise is still there even after putting a brand new hub on it today... The lower ball joints looked very good, had them replaced about 6 months ago. Is it possible upper ball joints can be making that weird noise? I will definately have him look at the transfer case area and look for that part you described about fully engaging in and out of 2hi and 4hi... I will keep you all updated on tracking down this problem...

 

Ok, current list of new parts put on this thing... Replaced both front hub assemblies, replaced both lower ball joints, replaced both upper ball joints. Next things we are going to do is change the tranny fluid, rear end oil and front differential fluid... Brake pads, rotors and calipers all were in great shape. Tie rods, ect all looked in great shape. The 4x4 is doing what it should, engaging and disengaging. I even replaced the 3 button switch on the dash a while back. That sound is still there but it is much quieter than before since all these parts have been put on... I am starting too think I need a TCM ( transfer case motor ) or the TCM switch??? I will report back as we eventually get to the bottom of this issue.

 

Quick question, is ATF used in the transfer case??? I have been looking on youtube and I am getting confused... Some folks say ATF and some say actual transfer case fluid...

 

Anytime I've swapped or topped up mine, I use diff oil. I've heard atf being used as a bunch of different purposes, but hey, if they made specific fluid for a specific thing, then why not use it lol

 

I know Diff/Gear oil goes in the front and rear but I seen some use it in the Transfer Case... I thought ATF goes in there, not Diff oil...

 

Ok, after changing both the front and rear Diff/Gear oil and the Transfer Case fluid/ATF, that strange noise is like Elvis, it has left the building lol No noise, everything as of now seems 2 be just fine... Thanks for the help!

 

Thanks for the update. These follow upd are super useful. And Congrats!

 

Thanks, I am just glad the thing quit making that sound lol... I would hate 2 think that I bought most of the new parts for it when it simply might have been changing the Transfer Case fluid and or Diff/Gear oil