Loud popping noise with abrupt take off
 

I have an 07 H2 that has developed a loud popping noise that seems to come from between the middle of the vehicle to the front end. It only makes this popping noise when abruptly accelerating in forward or reverse, although it is much longer in reverse than in forward.
It does not do this when accelerating on the highway, only from a dead stop or a slow creep, ( if I'm doing 30 mph I can not get it to do it but at 10 mph and sometimes 20 mph I can).
It started after trying to pull a friends truck out of the mud.
It does not make this popping noise when turning unless I am abruptly accelerating from a stop and turning at the same time.
I have taken it to two different mechanic shops, one regular and one that specializes in 4x4 off road vehicles, neither one can say for certain where the problem lies. The regular mechanic shop said transfer case, the off road specialist said possibly front diff, but not 100% sure.
My main problem with this is that both are expensive repairs and I don't want to spend the money tearing into one to only find out it was the other.
Is there a way to 100% know what the problem is, or at least a way to test and eliminate one or both as the problem?

Thank you

Sounds like front hub is starting to seize up, I would check hub assembly,could be full of dirt and grime.

Thanks for the reply I will check that out this weekend.

Nope.
Was not a front hub.
Pulled transfer case this morning and opened it up, found spun bearing, metal shavings everywhere, just a total disaster. Very surprised that all I ever heard was the popping at take off, with the amount of damage I would have figured
there would have been a whole lot of grinding going on.

Now I'm looking for a new Borg Warner Model# 4484 transfer case.
Does anyone here know where I can pick one up at a reasonable price?