I have noticed a popping noise and feel in the wheel on hard turns, even at slow speeds. I lifted the front of the truck with jacks and checked the wheels for any lose feel or any obvious issues, none found. I then checked where the drive shaft exits the tranny and attaches to the front wheel. the driver side is tight no lose parts, the passenger side has a lose part around the axle itself, it is where the drive shaft exits the housing and then turns into a horse shoe shape and attaches to the wheel, you can turn it with your finger tips. Is this just a dust cover or another issue? Is something broke in the front drive train? My only option is to take it apart, my problem is I just dont have the time to go without a vehicle or do I have a spare vehicle. My goal is someone may have a clue and point me in the right direction on it and save me some time and $$$. Thanks! WesL

 

I forgot, it is a 2004 and the ring feels like it is rubber. It also looks like something pushed it out, there is a hard ring behind it but out flush with the axle housing, the other side the rubber ring is flush?

Thanks again!

 

That ring is just a dust seal, and won't hurt anything for now.

The popping, sounds like one or both of the hubs are locked.

 

I checked them and they are both on Auto, I will move it to manual, drive it a little and then put it back to auto. Thanks.

 

I think we fixed it, the popping feel and noise.

I locked in the hubs and made a quick 5 mile round trip, came home unlocked them and drove it, no more popping. Maybe the auto lock hubs or at least one of them was stuck in the locked mode? Not sure but no noise at the moment. thanks

 

you should be able to spin those horseshoe looking things. those are your front ujoints that connect the wheels to the axle itself. sometimes mine dont unlock completely from the dash, i always get into the wheel well and spin em to make they are unlocked!