2004 Chevy Tahoe Front Differential Bearing or CV Joint

2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE
85,000 MILES • V8 • AWD • AUTOMATIC
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CHEVY TAHOE
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I hear/feel a grinding on the front driver side. It is an all wheel drive tahoe with Stabilitrak. It does not make the grinding noise/feel when it is in neutral and coasting. It is not the brakes as it does not change when applying the brakes. One service center says it is probably the bearing on the input shaft of the front differential but they want to take apart the whole differential to see what other damage there might be. Can't they check the fluid for shavings without tearing apart the differential? Also wondering if maybe it wasn't the CV Joint and not the bearing on the differential as they said they have never seen thistype of bearing being worn out on a 2004 Tahoe. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Jan 9, 2008 at 3:34 PM
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MASTERTECHTIM
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DOES THE NOISE CHANGE WHEN GOING SIDE TO SIDE OR JUST STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD. THE INPUT BEARING IS A RARE FAILURE. THERE IS A RUBBER BOOT LIKE A CV JOINT ON THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT WHERE IT GOES INTO THE TRANSFER CASE. CHECK TO SEE IF THE BOOT IS TORN. A MORE LIKELY SCENERIO WOULD BE THAT JOINT CAUSING THE NOISE. GOOD LUCK
Jan 9, 2008 at 3:39 PM
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CHEVY TAHOE
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No it does not change when turning from side to side - it is a constant grinding.
Jan 9, 2008 at 3:48 PM
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MASTERTECHTIM
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CHECK THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT FIRST
Jan 9, 2008 at 4:00 PM
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CHEVY TAHOE
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The boot has no cracks and it does not appear to have any oil or grease coming from it. So I think they are intact. I will check the front drive shaft. Thanks.
Jan 9, 2008 at 5:00 PM
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CHEVY TAHOE
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I hit a small deer about 2 months ago. I hit it square on the front and drove over it. It did no damage to the vehicle that we could see at the time. It didn't even crack the plastic front bumper. Could that have damaged the front drive shaft? Thanks.
Jan 9, 2008 at 5:10 PM
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MASTERTECHTIM
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i doubt a deer could have done this kind of damage
Jan 9, 2008 at 8:33 PM