long time looker first time poster.
1990 pick up 5 spd 22r.
have had a grinding sound for some time, thinking transfer case.
tonight found that front end not engaged.
on jack stands hubs locked in passenger side axle turns with transfer case
in 4wd or 4 lo. axle turns but wheel does not. im sure not locked as driver
side axle does not turn. any advice appreciated I have not had front hubs apart yet I guess that's next.
note next time listen to son the first time...

 

Pull your hub apart. Sounds like the locking collar is not sliding onto the splines, but just engaging enough to grind on the spline ends. May just need cleaning and fresh lube. Here's a link for how to rebuild them.
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...ild-up-158644/

The reason your driver's side axle doesn't turn is because the differential sends all of the rotation to the side that's easiest to turn. With the passenger side hub not engaged, that CV axle turns easily. The driver's side turns harder because the wheel is connected on that side, so it just sits there.

 

^^^ what he said.

 

will check hub.
would it matter if the hubs are not locked and when transfer case in 4 high or low still grinds.

 

Depends on what's wrong inside the hub. Your initial post indicated that, with the passenger side hub "locked", the axle turns but the wheel doesn't. That's definitely a problem, and I'd look there first. You may have some broken parts grinding around inside, even when the hub is supposedly unlocked. Could also be a CV axle sheared off just inside the hub. We won't know for sure until you open it up, but it's a pretty safe bet something isn't right inside.

 

thanks will pull apart.
been a few years since I had one apart it will come back quick enough.

 

yeah end of cv shaft is sheared off.
thanks. maybe now I can figure out grinding sound
in 4w high and low hopefully related.

 

Well, replacing the sheared CV is the first order of business. I got mine from NAPA for about $65 each. You only need one if the other one is ok.

I can see how a sheared CV shaft could cause grinding and clunking when rotating, so hopefully the replacement will fix all of your problems.

 

swapped axle but now have the grinding/binding sound in all 3
positions with transfer case. I guess with broken axle no load on
case with 2 hi before? you would think still no load in 2h but obviously
something not right.