2005 denali awd 6.0 acceleration noise

[trialsguy]

I recently purchased a 2005 denali with noise that I believe is coming from the front differential, I would like to take out front drive shaft and give it a test drive to see if it elimates the low roar that I'm getting under acceleration at hiway speeds just as son as I press on the gas peddle. I don't want to bust something in the process of trouble shooting my problem. I have read on the net that these awd SUV are notorious to have front differential troubles.
Thank you
Bobby

 

[ezdaar]

Donot remove the front driveshaft and drive your denali! you will smoke that transfer case in under a mile!
DONOT DRIVE MISSING A DRIVESHAFT!

You have a viscous coupler in that transfer case designed for AWD,
You DONOT have a 4x4 type transfer case.

 

[trialsguy]

Thank you for the heads up!! I'm putting it on the rack tonight to see if I can tell where the noise is coming from with wheels turning. I hope that I can duplicate it but I'm afraid that it won't show up without a load

---------- Post added at 10:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:01 PM ----------

Okay I just got it down off the rack and for some reason the front wheels would not Spin as fast as the back wheels freely but I could definitely hear a buzz in the transfer case I wonder if that's the transfer case is causing the problem

 

[livingez_123]

The front diff on the Denali's is good for 100k at the most, you could get lucky and just need a re-bearing, its a very common issue. it cost me $450 to have mine done, and that was doing the R&R myself.

pull the front diff drain plug and let it drain into a clean pan, check the magnet and see if its full of filings, look at the fluid and see if its looks metallic.

 

[trialsguy]

Along with checking the drain plug magnet for metal is there other ways to determine where the noise is coming from? The vibration/noise carries to the back as well. I really thought I had the right idea by pulling the front driveshaft for a test drive. I have zero experience will full time awd though.

 

[01ssreda4]

Mine does this also, its hit or miss depending on load and mph. So far Ive owned the truck for 5k (190k total) and it hasn't gotten worse. I did have to drop the diff some to service the oil pan gasket and its not hard to remove at all. If it gets bad I will put a rebuild kit in it. I'm not worried though, I drained the old oil and replaced with syn, no change though unfortunately....was hoping it may quiet it some.

 

[trialsguy]

I just replaced the side caster bearings, axle bearings and pinion bearings and I'm sad to report this did not take care of the noise. So now I'm wondering about the driver side wheel bearing or the cv axle shaft or possibly ujoints. Which all feel ok when inspecting. There is some side to side at the transfercase rear yoke. Is there suppose to be any up down side to side slack here

 

[trialsguy]

Any thoughts from you guys? This is driving bonkers

 

[ccapehartusarmyINF.(ret)]

AWD makes people do dumb shit like drive on snowy or icey roads even though they have no idea how to drive in those conditions but they think because they have AWD there cool
and then they windup in a ditch upsidedown

 

[thechevyman]

AWD makes people do dumb shit like drive on snowy or icey roads even though they have no idea how to drive in those conditions but they think because they have AWD there cool
and then they windup in a ditch upsidedown

What in the world does this have to do with his question?

---------- Post added at 03:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:11 PM ----------

If you have had the front differential rebuilt, and your certain the wheel bearing are good. I would be looking at the transfer case.

Take it to a shop that can diagnose this on a rack for you.