I recently bought my first Ford F150 - 2003, XL, 4x4, 4.6L, 78,000KM (48500 miles) - and have a couple of questions:
1. When I hit 40-50 mph there is a howling noise, it can vary with speed and how hard your driving it. When I let off to slow down sometimes I also feel a slight vibration in the floor. The mechanic says it is tire noise. I can hear some tire noise but also feel that there is something else. I heard that Ford had some problems with noisy differentials. Is this correct. If so how can I tell if its the diff? Would changing the diff fluid to a better quality help? When first bought the truck I had problems with the limited slip diff locking up on corners. The mechanic put in the Ford lube to stop the problem.

2. A couple of times when coming to a rolling stop and then stepping on the gas I noticed a slight hesitation and a clunk before I got rolling again. I checked the transmision levels and it was slightly low. I added some trans fluid but has happened again since. This does not happen all the time, only once and a while. Any thought as to what this might be?
Thanks

 

no solution for ya, but i have a '02 screw 4.6l 2wd with a clunk. when its not fully warmed(i always let it warm about half) the first few stops when its cold it clunks. when you fully stop, it sits back(forward motion stopped)gives a little clunk, then as you ease off the brake to go again it clunks again...only when not fully warm. maybe same noise??? anyone

as for the front diff noise, just about every newer 4x4 truck i've been in has the growlies, regardless of brand...constantly locked hubs is the cause i think...not a mech tho...

sherm

 

the clunk is spline clearance between the drive shaft yoike and pinion. all F150 have that.---------- for the noise, jake up the front end a couple inches off the ground. take the wheels and brake disc off so then dont drag. turn the hub on each side slowly and see if you can here the bearing, CV joint, etc making any noise. go to the other side and do it also. you cn also thake the front drive shavt off at the differential and see if the Universal joint on either end s dry and causing the noise.

 

if spline clearance it the clunk, why only when cool?? not when fully warm?? shouldn't that stay the same throughout driving, regardless of engine temp??

 

Thanks for your thoughts. When my truck clunks it has started moving already, almost like its in 2nd gear, and then clunks back to first when you step on it.??

 

The howling you are hearing and the vibrations are probably the same I have, it is the front bearing and good luck...They are about 150 to 322 bucks depending on where you go! Advance Auto has them for about $150 and Auto Zone is the $322! You can't just buy the bearing itself you have to buy the whole hub assembly!

 

Ford the klunk, get some of that grease that ford sells for it. I did my truck almost a year ago, and havent heard the clunk since. It works pretty good.

 

What kind of grease and where does it go?

 

I forget exactly what the grease is called, I just went and asked for it at the ford dealer. and it goes on the splines coming out of the back of the transmission, where your driveshaft goes on.