2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission 01 front wheel bearings

[CRead]

Hey all,

When turning left while on the throttle i have what sounds like a right front wheel bearing going out. I put her up on stands and the right front had no movement in it that i could feel. I spinned the wheel and it felt smooth. If I turn left while coasting I have no sound its only under any amount of throttle. Do you guys think it the wheel bearing? Also it there a special way of checking the ball joints? Off the ground the front end feels really tight but at 168,000 miles im sure they need replaced! Any info would be great thanks! Oh yeah it is a 4WD and I have never touched the front end with any tools but a grease gun.

 

[BeefDoc]

My truck was doing this a while ago, and when I replaced the front brakes, the clips that the brake pads sit in were missing. I replaced those clips and the noise quit.

I have 270K on my original wheel bearings ( I think I might have one going out now).



FWIW



Matt

 

[McCRam]

Another thing to check is the ujoints in the front axle shafts, right behind the hub assembly. If the ujoint is goin out it will make more noise while it is at an angle, than when you are driving straight.

 

[CMoore]

Frontend Noise

Exactly... If it's DEFINITELY not the wheel bearing, it's either the brakes or the u-joint. To answer your first question, normally on smaller vehicles the old wheel bearing check (grab top and bottom of tire while off ground will reveal bad balljoints), but on 3/4 and 1 ton trucks you really need to get some leaverage on them, unless completely smoked. While on jack stands, use a very large prybar between the ground and tire to "pry" the tire away from the axle while looking for any play in the upper or lower joint. BTW: I've replaced nearly everything on the frontend of my 99 w/ 120K except the balljoints! I check them regularly and are still tight! Seems to be hit or miss with balljoints... my buddy just did them in his '03 with only 80k and another friend did a set in his '00 Ford with only 57k... ??? I truely believe that driving style and proper alignment are key in component life.

 

[CRead]

Thaks guys! Ill check all those. I used a big pry bar on the bearings like you said no movement. I herd something a while ago that the ball joints have to have a load on them to check for play i dont know? The truck has seen lots of dirt roads and mountain roads but never abused.

 

[NoSeeUm]

Another TDR thread that might interest you.



Changing both ball joints and U joints had no effect on my truck. Although there was enough wear in them that the dealer changed them under warrantee.



Jim