Archived Steering Drone

[gonzo2k]

I got a problem I can't quite figure out: Going under say 40mph when turnin to the left only I get a loud drone coming from pass side front tire, it is loud enough I can hear it over the motor. I have had the tires rotated, balanced and pressures checked... nothing helped. I jacked the front of the truck up and grabbed the top and bottom of the tires to check for wobble and nothing. This morning I pulled both front tires and took down both front brake assemblies and inspected pads and rotors, they look good also. Any thing I am missing, something that might should smack me in the face. Oh and another thing, the discs with no tires on are very hard to turn, as if the brakes are engaged on them, they move, just not much. It almost sounds like a pad is dragging or something. The drone is getting under my skin and I have to fix it or else.



Thank you in advance



Scott

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Are you sure you are not hearing tread noise?

 

[gonzo2k]

At first I thought it was just tread noise, then I noticed in a turn it got louder, loud enough I could hear it over Mr. Cummins. It is something easy I am sure, just so far my logical thought is shot.

 

[JMarkos]

I know on a front wheel drive car that noise is a sign there is an axle bearing going out, of coures it would be a little different on our trucks but thats where I would look. I am not sure but I think those front bearings are a sealed deal, I am sure someone else knows for sure.

 

[Extreme1]

Front bearings are sealed, they will make noise and still be tight. With the front end on jack stands, try spinning the front wheels (leave the tires on for leverage). The left should be a little harder than the right. Then turn the wheels all the way to one side and repeat, this will check for a tight u-joint.



While you're at it, make sure the tires don't have any high/low spots or slipped or broken belts.

 

[gonzo2k]

I had the truck up today and before I did the brakes I did spin each front tire, The drivers side was harder to turn than the pass side. At full lock both wheels still turned the same. Is this a normal result or not.

 

[MidwestMotorman]

You probably have a two part problem. Usually the front hub bearing makes noise as it is going bad. Now, as the hub starts to get a little play, the brake pads will drag on the hub making a noise that you will definitely hear.



I went through this while I was a service manager on a dakota that was in for a brake job. The brakes got changed and a noise started there afterwards. This was a 99 Dakota with 26k on the clock. We looked at everything, bent backing plate, rock inside the back dirt shield, grabby discs, etc. We never were able to figure out what the problem was until I ran across another dealer that said play in the hubs cause that and one just has to live with it unless a new hub is put on.



Have you checked the simple causes I mentioned earlier? Like a rock in the dust shield or a damaged backing plate? How about a bad front u-jpoint (if 4wd)?

 

[daveshoe]

I saw a 98 with 80 k on it that had bearing problem . there was much evidence of corrosion and dirt in the bearings. The owner had no warning except for a ten second squeal and the front end ate itself at about $3000. 00 damages. This is my biggest fear with these trucks. I have also heard of people checking brake pads & looking good on the outside and the inside pad dragging or worn out . I would check this first before getting into the bearing group,cause these things ain"t cheap

I posted to a site once before about adding a grease zerk to the bearing group and got no response ,but have been told by a local heavy truck mechanic that it was an idea worth exploring. Chrysler used to "overfill'' these bearings and instructed their mechanics not to remove or clean off the grease [service bulletin thread] IMHO this issue is as important as KDP if you have a late model 4WD . Before winter salt season I plan to take off and never seize all the parts outside the bearing group as others have had problems with dissasembly. Sorry for long post.

 

[MidwestMotorman]

bad hubs

Bad hubs... believe it. Mine ate the right front at 155 miles. It threw grease everywhere and I started wondering why. It definitely went bad (probably due to improper assembly), and I managed to make it to the dealer for replacement.

 

[JCockrell]

P/S fluid level ?

gonzo2k, This may be an obvious question. Did you check your Power steering level ? I had the drone and that was my source. Took me awhile to figure it out. With the noise level of the Cummins the drone did not sound like low P/S fluid on a gasser. Just a thought.

Jeff

 

[BWilson]

Left front turns on my truck made the same droneing noise when the bearings went out. It's happend to me twice now, once at 150,00 or so and again at 340,000 (it's a 97). Any way, the bearing was bad both times. They are not serviceable!!! I talked to Timken to try and get the bearings direct but they could not sell them to anyone except Bosch. The I talked to the engineering manager at Bosch, he gave me my first hub for free and told me that they would investigate making some aftermarket tools to allow the bearings to be serviced but it hasn't happened yet. The good news is that the price of the new hub assemblies has dropped considerably since '98!!! Now they're only around $400!!!!! and less than an hour to change!!



Good luck!

 

[ABrameloah]

You might check the axel joint as well!!! look for any rust at the cap joints