Odd rubbing noise? (HELP PLEASE)

if my memory is good, from my lubeTech days of 30 years ago (1990), the way to check the level is to take the fill plug off and see if any comes out but maybe things have changed over the past 3 decades lol
maybe the pinky finger is to be inserted to check

 

Seems risky especially since I have nothing to catch fluid with. I’m very under equipped

 

There is no dipstick on these trucks. Sealed transmission, must remove fill plug and stick finger in. If you touch fluid right away you are most likely good. If not and have to fish more than a little, then you are gonna need to add some, but hopefully hasn't created any further issues.

 

which finger?

 

I guess which ever of the 11 will fit

 

the pinky is the shortest, why i said use that one lol

 

Maybe his friends call him stubby.

 

Going to go to a shop and get my u joints on my driveshaft greased, as well as my transmission fluid changed on Monday. I may get them to change out my front brakes too since that may be sort of the issue here, is their a type of caliper I can buy that is more low-profile then what I have right now? On my current rims they had to grind down my calipers a little bit so my rim didn’t rub on them, but I’m not sure if I need new calipers right now? Let me know guys.

Also, is it safe to jack up my truck just with the bottle jack to take off my front tire and check the brakes? I’m gonna assume noo... since if it drops then I’m not gonna have anything holding it up...

 

Yes you can use the bottle Jack and lift to remove the tire. Just loosen lug nuts before it gets off the ground.

 

yeah, i know to do all that I’m just wondering do the bottle jacks have safety locks on them at a certain height as a safety mechanism

 

Not that I am aware of. Just hydraulic pressure.

 

Think that’s good enough to be holding up one side of my truck under the LCA without a tire on it?

 

put that tire you take off flat under somewhere like that for safety!

 

This is true!

 

Or play jenga like this guy
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/read-this-before-removing-your-sway-bar.562513/

 

That seems safe

 

Well, it’s really bad now. I’m starting to think it may be transfer case related or something. I was driving it trying to pinpoint the location exactly and see where it was at it suddenly did like a jump and felt like I blew out a gear. Luckily I was really close to home and I was able to get back.... I may just have it towed to this shop on Monday because I don’t know it I wanna risk driving it over there.
https://youtu.be/GUMgjVk5g7Y

 

no safety on them..

 

Yikes