grinding?

[Dads69C10]

Hello,
Im hoping for some help. I have a 73 K5 that started making a grinding sound. I hear it coming from the driver side front but who knows. I inspected and repacked the bearings and changed out the brake pads(worn but not terrible). I dont know much about 4X4's so im looking for other things to check out. thanks for any help

[Transformula]

Grinding sounds can travel all over a truck from the source sometimes. We need to know a few things first. Is the noise consistent with road speed or engine speed? Is it tied to acceleration/load or coast, or "float" conditions? Straight ahead or turning? If you know the exact conditions when this happens,, that can help narrow it down! There's a lot of things that can grind on a 4x4. I had driveshaft splines make a grinding sound under Float conditions once (Not under load, not coasting, but in between).

[Dads69C10]

Ive only heard it under slow speeds. Thats only because i brake and stop as soon as i hear the grinding. I should note that the front drive shaft was taken out by the previous owner so i may have destroyed the NP203 by now. The grinding usually occurs duirng light acceleration and coasting straight ahead. Turning hasnt been an issue. Thanks again.

[Transformula]

If it's coming from the case or rear axle usually you can hear or feel it through the shifter for the case. If the 203 has a part -time kit installed, then it won't get fried just by removing the front shaft. Slow speeds can be a wheel bearing, ring gear carrier bearing. Under light load or float/coast could be play in the rear shaft splines, bad case output bearing, too much play in the rear end, even a u-joint going bad. A wheel bearing won't care if it's under load or coasting.
Hopefully this gives you a little bit more to go by!