New grinding noise from pass side front wheel

[mattymac]

New grinding noise from motor? (updated)

I have had a noise lately that sounds exactally like a set of aggresive tires rubbing the fenders when you turn hard and hit a bump. Only problem is I still have my stockers on. It sounds and feels like its coming from the PS front tire sometimes when I hit the brakes but mainly when I turn left. It doesnt do it all the time but sometimes once a day sometimes once a week or two. Its not consistant with anything I do so I cant repeat it by doing something rutine. It also gets worse now when I put a heavy trailer behind my truck. Everything looks normal and no other signs or noises at all, just every once in a while it sounds like an aggressive tire rubbing my fender when I turn and it vibrates the floorboard. Any Ideas guys? Thanks.

 

[DPKetchum]

Hub bearing or u/joint. Sounds like joint dry and seizing.

 

[JVas]

I've got the same noise when making a hard right turn. Just changed the right front wheel bearing (which was a little rough when turned by hand) & checked u-joint.

Still getting noise.

 

[rbattelle]

My money's on u-joint. JVas - how'd you "check" the u-joint?



-Ryan

 

[JVas]

Pulled axel out. U-joint flexs free & is well greased. Was installed about 5000 miles ago

is greaseable.

 

[fireman717]

since you say it gets worse with a trailer/load I would bet on a wheel bearing.

 

[LesStallings]

My left front wheel bearing went out and everyone thought the noise was coming from the right front. Comparing the sides with the wheels up in the air is the only way we could "feel" the left side as being bad.



By the way, a hard right turn loads the left side and would usually be loud if the left side was bad.

 

[bbsmith]

My moneys on a rear u joint behind the carrier bearing. 2 sets so far under warranty. Gonna put some good ones in it after it runs out.

 

[JVas]

My left front wheel bearing went out and everyone thought the noise was coming from the right front. Comparing the sides with the wheels up in the air is the only way we could "feel" the left side as being bad.



By the way, a hard right turn loads the left side and would usually be loud if the left side was bad.

Les,

I'll check the left side next.

I love driving this truck but I've just about had enough.

40,000 miles and 5 u-joints bad, 4 ball joints worn out, 1 front wheel bearing replaced, and this noise. This is bulls--t.

 

[mattymac]

Thanks fellas! Here is some weird news, I think I have found the source of the noise. I had to run the trailer about 60 miles or so down the road, as soon as I started making it through town (stop and go) I realized it would do it with the clutch in coming from a 4th 5th or 6th gear run then going into N? I checked it every time, and yes it is everytime with the clutch in, upon furthur investigation I started watching the tach, the noise happens as soon as the RPM drops below idle, after watching it time and time agin when my RPM's are up and I put in the clutch to downshift a few gears and when I go to put it in N the RPM's fall far enough down below idle (about 600 RPM) and sure enough it makes the noise and the rpm's come up the noise goes away and if the R's flair enough it will do it a second time? I unhooked the trailer and started messing with it, and if I try I can now get it w/o the trailer more consistant. I dont know what its doing but I KNOW ITS COMING FROM THE ENGINE! I know this sound weird but I have been in my truck for about two hours straight now and I can get it to do it everytime. I tried it with the chips off and got the same results. Nothing is out of the ordinary, the truck runs perfect, (it just makes noise now). What do you guys think?

 

[lmills]

Matt, I am glad I read this. I believe I might have the same noise if not something very similar with mine, but can't find it either. Hard to dedsribe the noise, but what you said about tires rubbing sounds almost perfect. Does it more often turning left, makes the noise worse when towing and I can't eremember it ever making the noise turning right. I even left my bro-in-law walk beside the truck when I left out on the clutch with a loaded trailer. He heard the noise also along with any one that has rode in the truck. We just can't find the source. Could it be something with th FE? Mine never did it before the FE. I noticed it the 2nd or 3rd day after the install. It also does it worse in 4wd with a load.

 

[steved]

Would't be an "accessory" going bad would it... alternator, PS pump, AC pump... or even the belt)??? Or the bearing the fan rides on??? Water pump??? Fan clutch itself??



steved

 

[SRadke]

Either of you guys have a mechanical oil pressure gauge? If not I'd plumb one in just to rule that out. I know it's a stretch but... .

 

[lmills]

I do... ... ... .

 

[SRadke]

I fold... .

 

[Hercules130]

check the motor mounts to. usually when the idle is really low the engine shakes more and there is more vibration. Does anyone know if ours are hydraulic?

also could the fan be hitting the shroud?

 

[lmills]

the fan shroud is connected to the motor. when the motor moves, the shroud goes with it.

 

[mattymac]

Lloyd, when I was towing and I would take off I watched the tach and sometimes if I took off hard enough it would be enough to lug the motor down to make the noise if I was off the throttle, Also with the FE, I have had it in for a while now and it just started doing it about a month and a half ago (but I have thought about it and not ruling it out). I have looked at the motor mounts, all the accessories, mainly the AC compressor because of all the noises they make, also the turning left thing may be a coiencidence but I was thinking that around town I usually make my turns in 4th gear (when it makes the noise), it lugs down plus the extra strain from the PS pump lugs the motor down more to make the noise but it doesnt do it enough empty to really tell, nothing looks out of the ordinary though?



I want to know why it does it so much more with a trailer and when the clutch is in with no additional load on the motor? I do notice with the trailer hooked and dropping it in N the R's do flair more on and below idle when the noise occurs? Empty I can get them to drop below 750 when going into N but it doesnt do it as much, also empty it looks like it goes to 550-600, hooked it goes to about 500? I may have to get out the digi cam and post a vid with some sound.

 

[rbattelle]

Does anyone know if ours are hydraulic?

They're not.



-Ryan

 

[JVas]

Noise when making a hard right turn. Found cause!

When I installed the four ball joints I installed adjustable Moog uppers.

After the front was aligned the noise started happening (only on hard right turns).

Due to the adjustment of the eccentric in the upper ball joint the angle of the knuckle changed inboard at the top enough that the rear of the u-joint yoke on the axel rubbed the end of the housing tube. A little lube and noise is gone.

I'm starting to like my truck again today!