So I've been chasing down the intermittent "rumble strip" noise that a lot of people have had problems with, and found out my passenger side intermediate axle was stuck engaged..

Didn't have money to replace anything or fix it properly, so instead I tore down the pass side and removed the intermediate shaft and the collar, so now my truck no longer has 4wd.

I got rid of the intermittent noise, and now theres a much quieter constant whine/groan and it's definitely from the drivers side, and it kind of sounds like it's from the differential. does not change with turns, and is loudest at lower speeds.

When I had it jacked up I spun both sides, and the drivers side turns freely, but there is definite resistance, and a rumbling gear type sound that seems like it's inside the front diff.

I'm going to be tearing the D/s front end apart today I think, but just wanted to know if there's something I should look for? could this be a wheel bearing? I've never heard one that sounds like this before if it is.

Also, is there a way to just disengage the cv from the diff if I find it's bad gears/bearings inside the differential? I wont be needing 4wd for months, I just want to avoid further damage or a dangerous driving situation. this is my DD.

i foresee myself gutting the front diff in the near future if there's no other way to stop this grinding.

oh, and FYI, my front brakes get sticky when they're wet, and this specific low rumbling started during heavy rain. Any chance my brakes could be involved?

 

found a diagram to answer most of my questions, but have one more;

Does the front diff in my 95 take the same side spider gears as my rear diff? I have an extra set of gears from my rear end (Code GU6)

 

Don't look like it.

Front
Diff Wizard suggests Yukon standard open spider gear kit for GM 7.2" S10 and S15 IFS - YPKGM7.2IFS-S

rear (7.625")
Diff Wizard suggests Yukon standard open spider gear kit for late 7.625" GM with 28 spline axles - YPKGM7.625-S-28

Rear (8.25")
Diff Wizard suggests Yukon standard open spider gear kit for 8.5" GM with 30 spline axles - YPKGM8.5-S-30