Something catching in the front end with a loud bang

I was driving my 92 wrangler on the interstate the other day and out of nowhere it got really loud like a wind sound then a loud bang and now it won’t roll more than a foot or so without seeming like something is catching in the front end and then bang it will roll another foot I lifted the front off the ground both axles spin freely without catching I took the diff cover off no shavings no fragments and all gears seem to be turning appropriately I took the right axle off of the center axle disconnect and nothing noted on any of these gears there is no play in the front driveshaft and all the U joints have no play wheel bearings have no play either I’m completely stumped any other ideas I will be taking the front driveshaft out today to inspect

 

Without being there and looking at what your looking at. It sounds like it might be your transmission or transfer case.

 

Transmission still shifts smoothly, it still bangs even in neutral pushing it.

 

OK. I'm confused now. According to your post. If I'm reading it right. It will only roll a foot at a time. How are you testing the transmission? Are you driving it or trying to push it?

 

Ok so it was towed home so no more damage was done to it, so when we got it home we didn’t turn it over, it got put in neutral and rolled and was still banging and locked up then would correct itself and roll again, but only about a foot before it would catch again

 

Gotcha. I'm still thinking tranny or transfer case. If you checked the driveline, excluding them. And all gears, joints, and mounting points are still intact. I'm stuck as to your issue. Could possibly even be a brake is the issue. But that doesn't explain the "bang". @aggrex. What's your thoughts?

 

I was able to spin both front wheels freely when the tires were still on when I first lifted the front end, no issues, no breaks seemed to be catching. I’m going to lift the rear and see if it catches at all, I will also try to remove the front driveshaft and see if I can run it with just the rear and see if the front end still catches

 

I’m betting transfer case. The loud whining noise could be transfer or transmission though.

 

How did ya make out @Morgan.ryle

 

So far it’s been raining where I’m at so haven’t been able to deep dive into anything else