Not sure if these two are related. I have a '96 Rodeo which will not disengage 4WD. I back up a couple of meters after shifted to 2WD. When proceeding, I will get a grinding/whirring noise. I will have to shift back into 4WD. When pulling out of the driveway this morning, taking a sharp right, I got a severe clunking. I checked underneath and noticed that their is oil surrounding the passenger's side CV joint (no damage noticed on boot itself). I'm now wondering if both the CV joint and the inability to disengage 4WD are related. Could the clunking be due to a bad CV joint? What about not being able to disengage 4WD? I had noticed a clunking last week on the straight when shifting to 2WD as well. By the way, I did top up the front differential with gear oil- approx. 1/4 of a litre. Thanks.

 

Since posting this, I have changed the CV Axle Shaft. Still trouble disengaging. I have now found a way to get out of 4WD. I have to make sure it's in 4WD and when I start moving a bit, slap it out of 4WD without pushing in the clutch and that usually does it. But whenever I back up in 2WD, somehow something engages again, because I get that whirring sound when starting off again in 2WD, requiring me to put it into 4WD again and tapping it out. Strange.

 

As an update- just the other day I found that I could actually separate the replaced axle shaft from the hub on the passenger's side front. It's in the garage right now, but it appears that the snap ring came off. I would think this is most of my problem. Hopefully no damage occurred to the new axle shaft. Not sure if there was grease that escaped. Hope to found out more later today.

 

Finally got it in to the garage. They did find the snap ring missing. Replaced but I am still having problems with 4WD. Clunking and tightness when turning right. I got it up on jackstands tonight and put it in 4WD (with my wife in there of course). I could stop the front wheels with it in 4WD, so something must not be engaging. I heard that my actuator might be bed. What about my Auto Locking Hubs? And what could be causing the clunking and tightness when turning right?

 

A buddy mechanic just told me yesterday that it's my auto locking hubs.

 

Replaced the auto hubs with Warn manual. Fixed the issue.