Grinding sound at low speeds from front end

[VolsFan]

Getting this metal on metal noise at low speeds in the front end of my 03 2500 4x4 6 spd. I’ve put new timken hubs, spicer u joints, and brand new as of today rotors and pads. It engages in 4wd fine. It seems like it makes the noise mostly downhill. Flat and uphill I don’t hear it, or as much. Sometimes rolling to a stop it will, sounds like worn brake pads/rotors. Coincidentally it seemed to happen when I put nitto ridge grapplers and centramatic wheel balancers on. How do I trouble shoot this? Only thing I can think is the carrier bearing?

 

[Ozymandias]

You hear the centramatics?
They make a distinctive sound at low speed.

 

[ranger 393]

By chance have you replaced the u-joints in the front drive shaft , or just at the hubs?

 

[Ozymandias]

No way you hear a carrier bearing making a grinding sound.

 

[DavidC]

Key question, was it doing this before the work you did ?

 

[ranger 393]

No way you hear a carrier bearing making a grinding sound.

My 04 has universal joints on each end or the front drive shaft and 2 universal joints on the concentric bearing in the middle of the front drive shaft.

 

[Ozymandias]

My 04 has universal joints on each end or the front drive shaft and 2 universal joints on the concentric bearing in the middle of the front drive shaft.

??
I was talking about the carrier bearing(s) he mentioned.

 

[VolsFan]

The noise wasn’t present before doing axle u joints and hubs. I also had a shop install a new oil pan gasket and rear main seal recently so they had to remove transmission and driveshaft. Not sure if it’s related to that or not, it wasn’t making the noise immediately after picking it up. It’s definitely something rotating

 

[Ozymandias]

You could check for a bent brake shield.
Or that they installed the centramatics the right way, ours need to use the included spacer at the front axle, otherwise it will slightly touch the brake caliper.

 

[VolsFan]

You could check for a bent brake shield.
Or that they installed the centramatics the right way, ours need to use the included spacer at the front axle, otherwise it will slightly touch the brake caliper.

Thanks, I checked the shields they are not hitting. I also used the spacers as well on the centramatic, and ensured they didn’t hit the caliper mounting bracket. When I spin the wheel by hand there is no noise it’s only when driving. The noise hasn’t been like this since I’ve owned the truck, but it has made a binding like failed axle u joints, which has gotten better but not 100% gone. That’s been the 10k miles I’ve put on it, currently somewhere around 255k. Transmission shifts fine through all gears. Handles wonderfully. Just concerned to take on long trips now

 

[Ozymandias]

I'm out on ideas, can you make a video where we can hear it?

 

[seafish]

Maybe your front axle u joint repair didn't go as well planned??

 

[VolsFan]

Thanks for the replies. I feel confident in the axle u joints, I removed the axle shafts and took them to a machinist friend to have them removed and new spicers installed. This didn’t correct the binding issue I have been experiencing 100%. When I have the front end on jack stands and turn the wheels and spin by hand there is absolutely no resistance or noise. I have taken off the centramatics to zero it out as well. I’ve put a fair amount into this truck as I expected to with an 03 with 200k+ but it’s making me wish I’d have kept my 01 3500. I’ll also try to get a video

 

[Tuesdak]

Check the center bearing on the driveshaft as they can be real loud when they fail.

Put all 4 wheels into the air, say on jackstands, with a clear path in front of the vehicle. Fire it up and run it in drive say at 35 MPH. Might show the noise this way to a helper. 4WD may be needed to spin all 4.

 

[NIsaacs]

Have you changed the t-case oil recently? If not, I would drain it and see if you have issues there.

 

[MichaelOverfield]

From what I read, the Centramatics have a fluid and movable metal weights within them, and as such, I would assume some movement of the metal weights at low speed is per design, and perhaps that might be it?


It appears that you could try to remove them from the front wheels temporarily and see if the noise goes away.. if so, that might be it and nothing to worry about... not sure if you have done that already..


Another thought, if you can't replicate it with front on jack stands, then look at what is different in that condition (including if it is only the front jacked up, you have made it uphill as well). What comes to mind is the front drive shaft.. because unless you can spin both front wheels (in the same direction), then that shaft is likely not moving at all, and if you have an issue there it might cause some noise.


I'd also verify your fluid levels in the transmission and transfer case, if they were removed and replaced, it could be suspect, and if the symptoms are related to up or down hill, a shift in fluid could make for such a difference. Your signature says 6 speed, so I'm assuming manual transmission.

 

[VolsFan]

Thanks for all the informative responses. I verified that the transfer case and transmission fluid level are ok. Jacked truck up in the air and got to 45 mph, didn’t hear the noise. I removed the front centramatic balancers. Driving the truck and noise has left. So it seems like the centramatics were the issue all along. I’m running 305/70/17 nitto ridge grapplers on stock aluminum rims, not sure why the balancers were creating this.

 

[VolsFan]

Update- the centramatics weren’t the culprit they only magnified the issue. Been driving without them and the noise/feeling getting worse. Put about 150 miles on a tank of fuel and nothing has given way yet, waiting for something to explode

 

[seafish]

Sorry to hear...I still think that perhaps the front axle shaft ujoint replacement did not go as well as planned...could be something as simple and subtle as a single dropped needle bearing in one of the caps. Don't ask me how I know !!!

 

[seafish]

FYI -- an easy and simple way to diagnose bad u joints, is to use an infrared thermometer gun (available inexpensively at Harbor Freight) to check the temp of each and every ujoint cap after taking the truck fopr a drive ... a bad one will show up with substantially elevated temperature compared to any of the others measured.

Also works great to check for for sticking trailer brakes and any bearing !!