My vx was lifted in 2004. I drove with similar grinding noise ever since.
This year in January I grenaded my front diff. The spider gears blew and turned the whole diff into a rattle. It happened while I was climbing a really steep wall. I just took my front wheels over the ledge giving it some gas and landed really hard. Diff blew and I lost front drive.
Needless to say I got the front diff replaced, and since my friends had the front in pieces already they installed locker and front hubs.
In essence the front wheels are now disconnected for pavement driving and I have not heard the noise again.
This should narrow your quest for the grinding noise. Front driveshaft is still connected but its quiet.
After replacing the front diff I was wandering if there is an actual issue with spider gears that we do not know about and that is not detectable until the vx gets lifted...
With the locker the front wheels do not pull while on pavement. When the hubs are locked in 4x4 position there is no way of driving in high speeds so there is no way to say if new diff would be making that noise too.
I do feel like I killed two birds with one stone though. Maybe even three.
1. I got the front diff replaced that may have been faulty before it blew anyway...
2. I got the locker installed which makes my truck 2-wheel drive and the entire truck got much quieter while on the pavement.
3. Even though there has been a discussion about disconnecting the front wheel drive and that it doesn't affect the gas mileage, trust me on this, mine improved. I drove to Moab this year from Chicago. In comparesment to the last year the mileage was more efficient, not to mention the ride was more comfortable.
4. Most importantly the off road performance has changed; with locker and hubs I tackled more interesting trails this year.
I could go into a couple of other benefits but I have no idea how much you are into 4x4 performance. We lift vx's for looks and for off-road performance.
Let me know if you need more info.
Good luck.
k
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The lockable hubs are about $50-60 usually on ebay. You can also buy new ones for around $100, depending on what you get. i think the consensus is that the AISINs are indestructible but very pricey new(rebuilt not bad) and the WARNS are a close second. There are also some other brands out there that will do the job, but I can't make any claims for them.
). It is still sitting brand new in the box waiting for a home. I was actually waiting for some 4.77 gears for the differentials that never materialized. I installed the hubs anyways since I had to reinstall everything still and they were just as easy to put in as putting the original solid hubs back in. I have since changed plans and am actually seriously looking at the SAS now. I know everyone says that, but if the job I am waiting for comes through, I think I may just be the first person to actually pull it off. We'll see. Also if anyone out there is interested in a brand new Aussie locker for the corporate 10 bolt differential(your front end) I have one to get rid of.
