97 F150 4x4 around 200k miles on it, Drove the truck to town today and it started making a skreatching noise when i turn the wheel and moving at slow speed's It is not the typical Ball joint squeak, and they were replaced about 6 months ago. I also get a clicking squeak going down the road, everyone in a while from take of ill get a slide grinding or crunching noise. Also noticed that when taking a curve to the right i feel and hear a slight Bump but I dont when turning to the left, Also it doesnt have the typical grinding noise of a bad unit bearing, there is a slight roar but Pretty sure that it is just the aggressive tire's... Im about to go out and Jack it up and have a look at it but thought id post here and see if anyone else had this issue and what it was.

Also if i loosen the Cv nut on at the Hub that would show me if there was any play in the bearing correct? since the cv should keep the bearing's fairly tight even if they are worn?

 

Well after jacking it up i have changed my mind. Pretty sure it is the Passenger side Unit bearing. guess i cant hear the typical roar over the tires, but the tire has a little over a half inch of play in it, Driver side has absolutely none.

 

thats a good test. wheel off ground, jack under A frame... Grab the tire top and bottom and push in and out... or put a 2 x 4 under the edge and pry up and down. 1/2 inch is way too much.

 

Yup, got it changed out with a timken set, kinda pricey but probably cheaper than the ford dealership would of got me one for. I actually just finished putting it back together, prolly took me longer to go get the new bearing than it did to actually change it. No more squeak's, grinding or rattling/bumping. But the ABS light is still lite up, must not of got it completely plugged back in, hopefully it isnt something in the Hub that is messed up with the ABS