Would it be a problem if I wasn't putting it in to 4x4? Maybe I don't quite understand, but I'm under the impression that the front axle is open until the transfer case is engaged. None of these problems existed until I came home from an overseas deployment. My father was out driving one day and he said that magically the rear end, ring and pinion, went out and took it to a shop to get repaired. Not sure if they did some half <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/butwiggle.gif" alt="" />repair or some thing.