Ball joints or wheel bearings?

[cummins_crewcab]

Alright, I've had a light tick tick tick in the front left for a few months now. After my latest 300 mile trip it's reallllly loud. Sounds like the normal wheel bearing going out sound I've heard in the past on my other trucks. So today I jack the left front up, and grab the top and bottom of the tire and wiggle and I get about 1/16-3/32" play in the upper ball joint! Basically the outer knuckle moves that much in and out from the inner knuckle. I checked the pass. side and it's the same. I get no movement in the wheel bearings or noises when spinning the tire/wheel by hand. Can the ball joints make this loud ticking sound?



I need this fixed asap, driving 360 miles round trip on Saturday! If it IS the ball joints, can they handle the trip the way they are? Any worries on wheels falling off? I've only had king pins in the past so no experience with worn ball joints. Or does this sound more like a wheel bearing problem?

 

[cummins_crewcab]

Sound clip:



Click here



Sorry about the wind noise but it's hard to get audio at 40 mph . You can hear it really good at the 20 second and 35 second marks though.

 

[Wayne M.]

I can't hear your clip (dial-up/time) but usually a bearing going bad is a constant groan or rough noise, but I guess a tick can happen too. How are the Ujoints? I personally have zero tolerance for any front end or steering part wearing out- it gets top priority, but if the trip is that important and it will be all smooth highway, you should be OK. The reassuring thing is that we don't have control arms that can seperate if a balljoint fails. I don't think I've ever seen a complete seperation in a straight axle application like ours, and I've seen some real worn out stuff in my time.

 

[Garry Verheyden]

Sounds like it could be an outer axle u-jiont if it is dry and flopping around with shot bearings inside it. It was 4x4 right??



Garry

 

[cummins_crewcab]

Yep, 180 miles of freeway each way.



The noise started as a tick tick tick. But now it sounds more like bb's shaking around inside a metal can. It sounds exactly like wheel bearings to me which is why I origionally thought that. But in my experience there has always been play in the hub when they are that noisy and make some kind of noise while spinning by hand. I'd just hate to spend the $3-400 on a hub and it not end up being the problem.



I checked the steering joints and there is no play, same with driveshaft joints.

 

[Garry Verheyden]

I replaced a shot axle u-joint on my sisters 03. It was a pretty easy job. Take the brake caliper and rotor off and 4 bolts if I remember correct. Less than $30 for the u-joint (and that was from Dodge!!)



Garry

 

[cummins_crewcab]

Yeah I pretty much know all the details as far as repairing it all, just trying to figure out whats wrong! I've been wheeling sfa trucks for quite a while and have king pin 60 under my trail rig and have been through that 100's of times at home and on the side of the trail. I've never messed with a unit style bearing hub before but it can't be too difficult. I just want to make sure thats what's bad before I replace it! I'm used to $15 bearings that are easily replaced not $375 units!

 

[cummins_crewcab]

Sounds like it could be an outer axle u-jiont if it is dry and flopping around with shot bearings inside it. It was 4x4 right??



Garry

I went out and did the normal check on the u-joints and it seemed tight. I could not get it to deflect either direction

 

[rbattelle]

I wouldn't worry about the wheels falling off on your upcoming trip. If you can't get the front end fixed before then, just go ahead and drive it and take care of the problem when you return.



The problem with replacing the unitized hub/bearing assembly is separating it and the brake rotor. There are a number of methods out there, if you search in here for them. One that claims excellent results is here. I have not tried this method, but a couple people have reported success. If it is a bad bearing, though, you won't be concerned about destroying it so that might make things much easier on you (read: use a heavy sledge).



But please, I must make 1 suggestion: before you try repairing anything, check the tire over carefully to make sure it's not a rock or a large nail imbedded in the tire (which would be louder and louder over time as the rubber around it wears off).



-Ryan

 

[cummins_crewcab]

Lol, give me a little credit



It's not a nail or rock. I know the sounds of a bearing going out and thats what the sound is BUT, as I said, there are no other signs which in the past there always have been at least something pointing torwards the wheel bearings. But then again like I said, I'm used to pulling the spindle nuts off and the hub off and checking the bearings and races.



Guess I get to start on my conversion to dana 60 outers sooner than I thought.

 

[JHardwick]

my $$$ goes on the u-joint, keep us posted

 

[whamby]

Garry,

I don't think you will get a u joint for a 1 ton 03 axle for $30 from Dodge. If you did you got a steal.

rbattelle,

That is my post and it does work pretty smooth. Several people I have talked to were sceptical until they tried it. Regardless if the bearing is bad or not this method will save you some busted knuckles and bruises. I got some of the info from the 2nd gen forums who have been using a similar method forever.



Cummins crewcab,

My money is on the ujoint as well. I had to replace both of mine. The ball joints are not going to break on you but you should replace them when you get a chance. I read that someone found some Moog's the other day. May have been a rumor though.

 

[cummins_crewcab]

Did anyone ever confirm that the u-joints were the normal 1480's used in dana 60's for years? I have quite a few spicer 806x joints laying around.

 

[Garry Verheyden]

WHamby,

You are right!! I don't know what drugs I was on to assume I got such a good deal from $$$$Dodge$$$$. It must have been a bearing I replaced. It was my '96 that I replaced the axle u joint for under $30 (bought aftermarket). I just replaced all 6 driveshaft u joints on my 03 this week with stronger greasable ones and had all 3 shafts balanced. Total bill was $168 CDN. It would have been over $700 at the dealer. NOT EXAGGERATING!! One axle U joint at the dealer is $129. 82 (they don't evn kiss you first!!) I hope they have an aftermarket axle u joint.



Garry

 

[cummins_crewcab]

Well like I said, they look similar to a normal 806x spicer joint used in dana 60's from 78-now. Guess when I tear it apart I'll find out.

 

[ECappleman]

Can you "hear" a bad ball joint?

I have what sounds almost like a brake noise, but it is only right before I come to a stop. Like when the truck compresses and comes back up at a complete stop.



Thanks