Grinding Noise in 4wd maybe Front Diff?

[DBLAIR208]

Hi, My wife's 03 trailblazer is making a grinding noise in the front end. Seems to pull to the right, and will pretty much shut down lock up can't move. Put it back in 2wd and everything seems fine. No noise in 2wd. Chevy dealer said something was piled up in the front diff, but i find that hard to belive because it makes no noise in 2wd. Is there a common problem with the bearings on the passenger side locking mechinism? Any help would be great. I'm told this is a tough job, any tricks or tips would help this job go easier. Thanks Alot!

[the roadie]

Replacing the diff is a tough job. The Haynes manual or the Helm factory manual will make it easier. But amazingly enough there is a similar thread here: http://forums.trailvoy.com/showthread.php?t=49120

You might have bearing issues, and the owner in the other thread may have something else wrong with seals that caused his fluid to run out, but ther #1 thing to do is check the front diff fluid level. Did the dealer do this when it was in?

Rebuilding the splined disconnect on the passenger side is easier, and there's another message thread about that where the actuator is also discussed.

How many miles does it have, and have you ever serviced the various 4WD system fluids?

[DBLAIR208]

I took it to a different shop, and it's the front differntial. Spendy job.. The front drive shaft would move about 3/4" at the front diffential, and there was noise now in 2wd. Thanks for all your help!

[wbsterritt]

I'm a bit confused. Your personal profile states that you have an AWD yet you refer to not having problems in 2WD. In an AWD one cannot "select" 2WD. Just a typo on your part?