I took my 08 F350 in to have the front dust seals replaced with the redesigned part number. When I picked the truck up it was making a really bad grinding noise. The noise was as if there was a bad spot on a rotor or wheel. In other words, it wasnt constant, the faster I drove the faster the noise was. It was 6:00 Friday before a holiday weekend and there was no other choice but to drive the truck home. The noise was pretty loud at first but was gradually getting quieter. The noise was louder when I turned to the right. By the time I took it back to the dealer the noise was almost gone but obviously something didnt go back together right. The dealer is telling me they dont hear any noises now and they took it apart and dont see any signs of anything rubbing or grinding. I say BS. So what all comes apart to replace the dust seals (I cant even see where they had a wrench on it but it does have new seals) and of the items they took apart, what could make this noise? Brakes maybe?

 

get ready to take out a loan, sounds like the famous unitized wheel bearings.

 

Truck only has 18k miles so if its a bearing issue its not from my driving. I dont know what all comes apart to replace the front seals. None of the bolts look like they even had a wrench on them. Even the cotter pin on the spindle nut is rusted with no signs it was ever touched. Are the front bearings removed to get to the front seals? I havent replaced a unitized bearing yet so I guess my next question is could the hub assembly have been left loose? The bearing itself wont be worn out at 18k miles and the noise was never there before they replaced the front seals.

 

This isnt a whining/growling noise. Imagine that you have a rock stuck in the tire and you only hear the noise once per revolution. The faster you drive, the faster the noise gets. Only this noise was much more than a rock stuck in a tire.

 

could have been a chunk of dirt or some rust that fell off during the work getting caught in there. if noise is gone and doesn't return, i wouldnt worry .