The front driver's side wheel of my 2007 Ext. Cab makes a speed-related "ticking" sound. It's usually audible but not always there. I look for rocks in the tread of my BFG All-Terrains and sometimes I find some, sometimes not. The noise seems to be independent although some of the rocks really get up in there. Sometimes its really loud and it sounds like a rock. Drives me nuts. Bearing? 4WD CV or U-Joints or whatever?

 

Probably an IWE attempting to engage due to low vaccum.

Here's a good thread to read:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...then-some.html

 

Well, when I put in into 4WD, it goes into 4WD. If the IWE was trying to engage due to low vacuum, wouldn't it just go into 4WD (or 3WD)?

 

No, the 4wd will engage when there is no vaccum, that's how it works. Vaccum keeps it disengaged, and a failure of the vaccum pressure causing the system to engage. So a slight drop in pressure will cause the IWEs to attempt to engage.

When you engaged 4wd, did the noise go away?

 

I had the same problem with my 04 FX4. McDavis is correct, when I put mine into 4wd the noise went away. I unplugged the vaccum solenoid on the firewall behind the battery and unplugged the vaccum lines from the solenoid so the actuators would engage and I could steer the truck normally until I have a chance to repair it. If you just put it into 4wd, it will be difficult to steer on dry pavement. Let us know what you find, good luck.

 

Well, in 4WD the noise is still there.
I have a feel ing it may be related to the chrome "wheel covers".
I took the center cap off and the noise seems less frequent.
That wheel has no balancing weights on the outside of the rim.
Anyone know how those "covers" are attached to the actual wheel?
Could that sheet metal be flexing as the wheel turns?

 

I just found a thread from Dec. 6 2006 titled
Front left wheel sounds like cards in spokes

One of the replies states his truck has the chrome clad wheels and the covers cause a clicking sound.

Apparently they can be replaced with chromed plastic.
I don't know how.