I have only installed GKN or LR OEM branded... which is GKN anyway. Hardy/Spicer would be the only other brand I would go with - which is owned by GKN... So you can see where this is going. LOL I will never install a cheap replacement for such a critical part. But I also trail ride and go to some really remove places.

 

These are duralast gold. They have gkn stamped on them. And the rear driveshaft is a gkn

 

Nice. I tend to think Duralast is junk... but if they are re-boxing GKN, then you are good to go. With that said, I learned to never, ever rule out new parts never being an issue.

 

So after replacing the driver side cv axle with another Duralast Gold one, and torquing to 258ft lbs as service manual described,

The noise is gone and there is no vibration either...

The problems seemed to be from rear driveshaft (propeller shaft) and driver side cv axle.

 

Thanks for the update. So, the first driver cv axle was bad, huh?

 

Well the noise and vibration is back again today. FML

 

Oh man, that's the worst! That fixed for a day trick they play on us can be so demoralizing...

 

Here's an idea - since it seemingly went away for a day after you were (presumably) doing a little pounding, pushing and pulling on the front getting the cv out and back in again, it might be that you disturbed the bad component just enough to make it better for a short time.

I know you said you checked the front hubs by checking play with the tires on, but I've found bad hubs that had absolutely no play when doing that test. So maybe give those a closer look.

Relatedly, you also said it has the famous transfer case whine - I had a 'transfer case whine' once that turned out to actually be a bad front diff.

 

On the diff… I was thinking that could be the cause but I’m wondering how I’d be able to tell if it’s the diff?

 

Chassis ears?

I had a T-Case whine that wound up being a bearing in the T-Case.