I've been noticing a popping noise from the front end for about 1 1/2 months, but never really took the time to check it until tonight. Mind you I don't drive my truck much, so I just didn't worry about it much. Well, I jacked up the driver's side, took ahold of the wheel, no side to side movement. Thought huh, that's not it. Then I tried up and down. BEHOLD, lots of movement! Guess it's time for some new wheel bearing assemblies. The bad part is when we were in Branson about a month ago and had the tire issues, I asked the tire shop to check the front end for any issues. Guess wheel bearing assemblies don't count there since I know it was bad prior to that. Anyway, thanks for reading and any input is as always welcome.

 

I would guess more along the lines of ball joints. With the front end jacked up get someone to help pry on the wheel and see if there is any play in the joints. I have a slight popping sound when braking hard and from the research I did, it points to the ball joints.

 

Thanks Grant, I will check them for movement. What stinks is that I relied on someone else to check the front end instead of myself. And, they said the ball joints were all tight. It was definitely making the popping noise prior to that time.

 

Having been thru both i would say that popping noise = ball joints. Grinding/growling noise would be bearings.

 

2 votes for ball joints. Thanks Damon. I'll be checking in to it.

 

Another vote for ball joints. Just did mine about 6 weeks ago. Just out of curiosity, do you get a "rattle" any time? Mine rattled like crazy when I got to about 68 mph.

 

No rattle Rodney. Just pops occasionally. Usually when I'm backing up and turning the wheels, or when I'm braking to a stop. It pops like the drop links did before I changed them.

 

OK. I just wondered because I had a new bearing ready to go in and when I got it on the stands and got the wheels off, I had to jump in the father-in-law's truck and go get ball joints. Good news was, I saved about $200. It did go from a 2 hour job to 14 hours. I had ALL kinds of trouble with mine (mostly my fault).

 

Ball joints since you only had up and down movement. If the hub was bad, you could wobble that sucker any direction. When my ball joints went, I'd get the loud pop/clunk when braking hard. To check them without help, get a pry and pry between the steering knuckle where the ball joint goes through and the part on the axle. You'll see movement if they're bad.

 

Ok, folks, here is what I found so far. Jack up driver side. Push on bottom of tire with my foot from underneath the truck. There is a small amount of movement in the bottom ball joint. Can't really see movement on the top one, but it looks like a pain to get out and replace. So for now I definitely can tell the bottom will need replaced since it has some movement. I'm gonna go search threads now for what brand and a write-up, cause I know there will be one. Thanks

 

You want to change both the upper and lowers at the same time, you can do just the drivers side, or just the passenger, but you want to change both when you do it.

It isn't a bad job, let me find a link to some of my notes when I did mine.

Edit: Linky https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...placement.html

 

I've been looking at threads also. Tie rod ends need replaced, but have not checked ball joints yet, 14° here last night. Lots of good info in racerguys therad here, and there are many others.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/3...ll-joints.html

Moog seems like a popular choice, but came across many having steering wheel return to center problems with Moog joints binding. Also seems Spicer is now Raybestos.

There was also a link to a snap-on tool for hub removal, looked slick. Good luck, and let us know what you decide.

http://image.snapon.com/international/pdf/fhp1_npa.pdf

 

I ha noticed mine doing the grinding and popping thing and my ball joints have been replaced. I am thinking of maybe wheel bearings. Mine just started grinding when I turn.

 

Thank you Tom and Dean for the links. That'll really help out. Looks like quite a job. Guess I better get ready.

 

I've been reading some more, and seems like many guys are happy with the XRF brand of ball and tie rod joints. The attached link was where recommended to purchase from. Anybody here have any experience with this brand? Thanks.

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