2nd gen loud front end noise!

Driving along one night, about 45 mph and a hear a noise sounds like a flat tire... almost feels like it too, so I pull over and as I’m slowing down the noise changes, now it’s almost like a dirt bike rev, not flat tire or anything leaking or anything out of the ordinary so I limp it down the road to investigate further, seems to be driving fine, just a weird noise like a playing card in a bicycle tire. very loud, almost undrivable, and it seems very bad to be driving with a noise like this coming from the truck. On a separate note, my 4x4 isn’t working properly so i thought I was maybe something to do with that, so I switch my 4x4 on and get it to engage ( by turning the truck on and off like y’all maybe have heard you have to do with some of these 4x4 actuators) all the sudden no noise! 4x4 isn’t engaged but the switch is in 4h mode and the noise is gone! But when I switch it into 2 wheel again the noise comes back... someone has got to know what’s going on!?! Please help!?

 

Wheel hub or front diff needle bearings is where I would start looking

 

Sounds like the needle bearing is going out, and badly.

Edit:
Lifted?

 

If the sound/vibration stops with 4x4 on, that's the telltale sign of a needle bearing. ECGS makes a special bushing to replace it with that will stop the vibes. I would go with that when you replace it.

 

Yes 2.5 inches

 

Thanks! Yeah I ordered the ECGS bushing but didn’t get the old bearing removal tool... probably a must with this job right?

 

Absolutely a must, there's no way to get it out otherwise. If you check the 2nd or 3rd gen buy/sell/trade page, there are usually people selling the tool very cheap or lending them out for free.

Also check out this how-to from K-Flo on youtube. I watched it a couple times before doing my bushing install and it helped a ton:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ4_7G12Esw

 

Y’all think it’s okay to be driving the truck? Noise is gone when 4 wheel drive is switched on, but 4 wheel isn’t actually engaged, front drive shaft is spinning but won’t engage at the front diff noise was for sure conning from where the cv axle goes into the diff, like a clicking every time it turns past a certain point on the axle shaft... won’t be able to to get under the truck for a few days but still need to get to work

 

Yes 4 by light blinking, the ADD actuator is bad... separate problem that was around before this started happening