2001 F150 supercrew 4x4 lariat. The noise only happens while I am braking. It happens almost all of time. It worsens the harder I apply the breake pedal. I have also noticed a problem with the 4X4 it will not stay in 4 High it keeps clicking and slipping in and out of 4 wheel drive. I tried to remove the driverside front wheel to check if the spare makes the same noise but the darn thing is froze on there. The tire looks like it has a broken band or something in the tread is uneven, not worn but deviated. I loosened the lugs and turned the tires to try to pop the rim from the rotor. I tried a hammer then a bigger one still nothing. I even tried putting it in 4L with the lugs loose and then step on it. Nothing Oh yeah it actually went into 4L with a loud clunk and then it was hard to get out. It is obvious that I have a few problems here but I feel like they are all related. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Randy

 

First get the tire off to inspect the brakes. Jack up the wheel (use a jack stand), take all but 1 lug nut off, leave it very loose (even with the end of the stud), Get a bfh and a board, put the board in front of the edge of the rim at the lowest piont, and smack the heck outof it till it comes off,

Sounds like 3 problems to me, Brakes, tire, and 4 wheel issues.
Good luck and let us know what yuou find.

 

My brakes do the same dang thing. At least I think it's my brakes. It almost feels like when brake pads get down to the metal, but without the squealing. I pulled all four tires, inspected all the brake pads (disc front, drum rear) and they are all in excellent shape. Also sprayed brake cleaner and cleaned all four very thoroughly, but still the rumble continues. I'm replying to bump you back to the top cause I want to know if anybody else has this problem and if anybody has a fix or any ideas.

 

At this moment my 97 F150 is on stands while I try to fix a brake vibration problem. Feels like rotor or drum out of round, did brake job front and rear, turned drums/rotors.
Still have vibration, frequency related to speed. Any ideas?

 

I replaced the front rotors on my 97 and almost all of it went away. One rotor was cut by rocks that got wedged in there, and the other was warped.
ALSO: When you buy rotors these days, buy the ones with the two year guarantee. The cheapo's warp pretty fast - poorer quality steel.