Needle bearing

I've got the groaning noise coming from my left front differential. I changed my wheel bearing because it was bad so I know it's not that but when I put it in 4-wheel drive it doesn't change anything. Is it always the case that when you put it 4-wheel drive it should stop the noise if the needle bearing is the problem?

 

That's my understanding. At the very least, it makes it noticeably better.
If you're not getting any change in 4wd, my guess would be that it's something else.
Are you lifted at all?

 

It's a 2013 lifted 2 1/2. I don't know what else it could be. I lifted it last Fall. Bilstein Coilovers,JBA UCA, new lower control arms, alignment, new tires. I'll probably go ahead and replace the needle bearing and hope for the best.

 

Get under your truck and wiggle the cv axle... if you have more than 1/8" of play your needle bearing needs to be replaced. Also look for leaking diff oil. I would replace it with the ECGS clamshell bushing

 

On my 2015, the noise/vibration pretty much went away in 4HI. I swapped the needle bearing for the ECGS bushing and it's 100% now.