2000 silverado front end binding

[Thunderbolt]

I am still working on this POS. I replaced a bad front differential in this Chevy 1500 because it was banging and grinding. I put a used one in and it was making noise and binding even in snow. They gave me another one and it is no different. The bind is so bad that from a dead stop with any turning of the wheel it feels like something is going to break. If I let of the gas while going slow with the wheel turned the truck will stop as if the brakes are on. If i shift to 2 hi without touching the gas it will immediately start rolling. This isn't the normal bind of a 4wd, it is severe. The salvage yard insists it is the correct gear ratio, but I am wondering, although the odds of them being wrong twice isn't likely. Any ideas ?

[_40Fan]

If your 4x4 selector switch has an Auto mode, I am sure your T-case is now toast. This really sounds like a wrong gearing situation. Have you owned this since new? What gears are the junkyards telling you it should have? You can jack one of the rear wheels off of the ground, with the transmission in neutral, and spin the tire 2 times while watching the driveshaft. Mark and count the number of times the driveshaft spins to the two turn of the tire and it will give you a close estimate of the rear gear ratio. Is that close to what they are telling you that you have?

[hermandutchman]

can you get at the ring gear and pinion to count the teeth to make sure they are the same?

[KD4UPL]

Have you checked your CV joints for wear and binding?

I'm sure these things are expensive but for something this important and difficult to install I'd only put in a new one.

[enblethen]

Does your 4 wheel drive engage in the front differential or do you have hubs?
It could be a CV joint in the half shaft.Half shaft CV/axle shaft

[2003silverado]

This is strange. It sounds like you are aware that binding and bucking is normal when turning on dry pavement in 4wd, but it shouldn't make noise. It would seem that if there were different gear ratios front to rear it would bind also when going straight in 4wd. One thing I know that can make a popping noise when turning in 4wd is a bad cv joint.

[Thunderbolt]

2003silverado wrote:
Just to be clear...if driving straight in 4 hi will it bind?

No binding going straight, but growls when slowing to a stop. I am wondering if I got two bad differentials. Maybe carrier bearing bad ? That or wrong gear ratio.I am honestly at a loss.

[2003silverado]

Just to be clear...if driving straight in 4 hi will it bind?

[enblethen]

Transfer case issue.
Does your rig have electric shift or manual/ If manual it could be linkage out of adjustment. Electric it could be the solenoid.
What happens when you shift to 4Low?
What about shifting to neutral if equipped/

[Itchey_Feet]

Will bet that the ring gear and pinion is different ratios frt. to rear, if it will free wheel in 2 wd and seem to lock up in 4x4 then they are trying to turn @ different speeds

[the_bear_II]

Could it be something in the transfer case binding ?