Note: I'm in college, and am looking for the cheapest possible solution. Thanks!

Something in the front end is messed up, and I'm fairly sure it has something to do with the 4wd. It makes a noise that gets louder with speed and is somewhat dependent on the degree the steering wheel is turned (makes almost no noise when turned a fraction left, and tons of noise everywhere else) I can also feel its effect through the steering wheel (it vibrates a little in relation to the noise.) This all happens while driving around in 2wd.

What I want to do is disconnect the 4wd completely (make the truck permanently 2wd, for all intents and purposes.) I was wondering how to best do this, without leaving anything under there that is going to fall apart/leak or otherwise be destructive.

Has anyone else done this before? What tool are needed? How do you disconnect the 1/2 shafts and remove them completely? Is that all I need to do?

Any help is very much appreciated!
Thank you!