Archived front axle grinding!

[Newf Limo]

I was driving today and I felt a little pulling on the front end, like a caliper hung up. I was about a mile from my house so I kept going and tried to decipher the feel and sounds. It sounded like a metal rubbing sound that you would get when cutting sheet metal with a hack saw. That annoying sound of the blade rubbing the sheet metal as you cut through it. It was intermittant.



I parked the truck and looked underneath. There is oil (lube) coming from both ends of the axle and trailing onto the lower ball joints. Looks like maybe the seals went bad, on both sides. Is that really possible? What is with the noise? Wht do you think I have trashed? Anyone experience this and what is the reccomended proceedure from here? I'm thinking I am screwed. Big time.



'preciate the help folks.



Dennis

 

[SRadke]

Likely u joints in the steering knuckels. Is it worse when turning? Are the u joints warm after you drive a ways?

 

[Newf Limo]

I would have to drive it again to check. So the oil would be over heated and liquified grease you think?



Trying to get those hubs off has given every shop a fit. Guess I won't be fixing this one myself. Any gueses on the price range of a job like this?

 

[Sticks]

Not cheap.

Buy some PB Blaster now and start spraying those hub bolts and seams every day until you find a shop that won't bend you over.

 

[Newf Limo]

Thanks Sticks. I just spoke to my dispatcher. His dad owns a garage and he said he would take care of me. His dad does a lot of work for the folks at our company. Both of my hubs have been off (and or replaced) in the past couple of years so it shouldn't be as bad as the first time. One time, the local shop torched off my ball joints (since that is what was getting replaced) and I had to buy a new hub! That sucked!



The next shop, when removing the hub, during all the prying and banging and beating, managed to kill the A/C on my truck and I have been without it ever since. They claimed they didn't do anything, but it was 90 degrees out when I drove it there and I had the a/c on. A couple days later, I picked it up, 90 degrees, but no AC! So, I totally understand the bending over part. I think they cracked an AC line and the freon leaked out. The compressor wouldn't kick in. Like the fuse was blown, but it wasn't. It was 100 degrees and 70 percent humidity this weekend. Wasn't that fun!!!

 

[SRadke]

The oil you see is leaking past the axle seals, not coming from the ujoints. Two independent issues.

 

[Sticks]

Bad U-joints would have trashed the seals. The grinding... Calipers locked up, worn brakes, hub bearings (also would have taken out the seals) or possibly something with your 4wd (although IIRC you have a vacuum activated system, it should not accidentally get partially engaged).

 

[bigblock_doc]

The seals are way inside the tube. Sounds like the bearings in the diff. Spider gears,

something had to let the axle shafts move up, down, and around to eat up the seals.

 

[Newf Limo]

This all sounds so encouraging. Looks like the Ram is just going to have to ride the hook to the shop while I find a bank to rob. Great timing. But when is it ever?!?



Thanks for the input folks.



Dennis

 

[Newf Limo]

Just had a chance to jack it up and give it a whirl. There is a little crunchy sound coming from the RF Universal. I'll have them both replaced as well as the seals. They can check everything else from there. Brakes are good to go.





Dennis

 

[Joe Mc]

Sounds like the joints. The inner seals are a PIA from what I've heard and read about - hope they're ok for you. Obviously make sure you get the joints with zerk fittings so you can grease them. Hope everything works out well for you.

 

[Newf Limo]

Thanks for the help and quick responses folks. It is in the shop. . . awaiting parts It obviouly wasn't necessary to order the parts when i set the appointment. That is usually best done when the truck is towed in for its appointment, so we can wait a few days for the parts to arrive. Should be done in a couple days now. Did that sound frustrated? I think that sounded frustrated. . .

 

[SNGLESHOT]

I recently had need of an articulated 4WD universal hub replacement. Loose as hell but not making any noise. Drivers side was nice and quiet and stable. Well... here it is 10,000 miles later (75,000) and I am now replacing the drivers side. This side DID make noise. I thought it was a loose caliper but it was the u joint. Dealer charged me $138 a side. Not cheap but I looked around. Lot of work involved pulling the axles and all.

 

[Newf Limo]

That is the down side of the rattle and hum of the mighty Cummins. You don't tend to hear the audible early warining signs. You get to know once things start grinding, binding, banging, thumping,. . .

 

[Newf Limo]

Problem solved, but not very impressed. As it turns out, the Right Front Hub was bad, for the 3rd time in probably 4 years. I'm not sure shy the seals on both sides would leak. I had put it in the shop for the seals and the grind with the Universals being suspected. When they found the hub was bad, they didn't call, the just replaced the hub, and the seals, and left the old U-Joints on! Fortunately for them, my wife picked up the truck while I was at work, so i had time to settle down. The hub cost about $150 more than the previous two, from the same shop, and the same parts supplier. $365. Aint' life grand.



I'm so looking forward to seeing Maine in my rearview mirror, for the last time!



Thanks for the help guys, i'm sure I'll need help doing some U-Joints in the next several months, as 9 Maine Winters and 190,000 miles on the original joints will no doubt be biting me in the butt pretty soon.

 

[rrl989]

I just had one hub replaced along w/ the ball joints, 1st time @ 170K. I guess I should not complain !

 

[Newf Limo]

Auto Parts Plus sells a hub by Chigago (?) that is supposedly A Timken product. It has a lifetime warranty. Napa really gouges you on hubs. At least the one in Kezar Falls Maine did, at $450, and it didn't last a year. Turns out, Dodge Dakota hubs and Ram hubs are only about $25 difference in price. For the quality, you would almost expect that they are interchangeable. A couple on my truck lasted as long as you would expect a Dakota hub to last on a Ram.



I used Moog ball jopints and they have held up surprisingly well.