I have a gear or bearing noise in the front end of my 2004 F350 4x4. This started at around 60,000 miles and has slowly gotten worse. I am now at approx 70.000 miles. I am getting concerned as the noise has increased slighty. I am a fairly good back yard mechanic and I have eliminated all the standard things like wheel bearings, u-joints, etc. The noise still appears to be coming from the front differential. I have jacked up the front end for testing, and my front wheels spin free of the front axle (the differential) when the 4x4 is disengaged, and there is no play in the wheels and the wheel bearings are smooth and quiet.
What I want to do is remove the front drive shaft in order to stop the front differential from turning while I am driving. This should stop all movement in the front differential, and if I have a bad bearing there, of course the noise should stop as well.

My primary concern is, will it throw the rest of the drive train off balance to remove the front drive shaft and continue driving the truck ?

My truck is a 2004 Crew XL, F350, 4x4, limited slip axles, V-10 engine, automatic, and 430 axle gearing. This pickup normally runs super quiet on the highway inside the cab with only slight wind noise around the windows. So any drive train noise is easily heard.

Anyone ever remove the front drive shaft and what were your results ? Thanks

 

Welcome to the site..

Front shaft shouldn't be spinning until 4x4 is selected.. Removing the front shaft won't damage or unbalance the drivetrain..