Doing a brake job on front replacing rotors/pads. Didn't want to tear into the lube needle bearing job if I didn't have to. Had ball joints changed 10000 miles ago by Ford dealer and talked to mechanic about lubing the needle bears when he was in there and said he did. With everything stripped rotors,pads, when I turn the spindles they don't have any play and don't sound dry. I hear a very low mild tick about 2 times per revolution on both spindles exactly the same. The spindle doesn't bind and nice and smooth. Could this be part of the 4 wheel drive hub locking system or something else.

 

Tryed something I manually locked the hubs in and turned the spindles, The mild tick which sounds like a dog dropping in a gear was gone and you could faintly feel the rotation of the needle bearings. The same on both spindles so I think its normal.

 

No, it's the needle bearings in the hub. They are not used when the hub is locked, which is why you don't hear the noise.

 

Sorry redford don't really know your point you are making. The mild sounding tick I am referring to is the same on both sides and once every revolution.

 

If the needle bearings are healthy you would not hear the clicking sound when the hubs are unlocked.

The needle bearings are what the hub (and wheel) spins on when the hubs are UNLOCKED. When the hubs are locked, the hub and the stub axle rotate at the same speed, so the needle bearings do not rotate and cannot make this clicking noise you hear.

It is not normal and needs to be fixed.

 

Understand the locked and unlocked hub. What seems funny to me is if it is the needle bearings why it makes a exact mild click onces on each revolution on each side,and if you reverse it once it clicks it won't do it until you come to the same spot, it seems there would be a difference between sides if they were bad.

 

I would check the bearings, It would drive me crazy not knowing for sure.

 

Look at it this way, if this wasn't a 4 wheel drive vehicle (had normal front wheel bearings) and you had this clicking noise, would you be concerned?

 

Yes I would be concerned but with both sides doing the exact same thing 1 (you really have to lisen for ) click or tick every revolution and smooth as can be the rest of the revolution I'm starting to think there ok, and yes I like to have the peice of mind that there ok but hate tearing something apart for nothing.My thoughts now are if they were bad there would be a difference from one side to another or at least more than one tiny muffled tick every revolution.If it hadn't for the ball joints done by Ford dealer and saying they lubed , I would tear in to it in a heart beat. Someone on another site thought it could have something to do with ABS.

 

With the hubs unlocked, turn the u-joint by hand - if it's nice and smooth and doesn't catch or feel gritty, the needle bearings are fine.

 

Krewat thats what they are like smooth and no catching no other sound then the one little tick I have been talking about at the same spot every revolution. I guess its hard to explantion a sound by word .Maybe someone else would say thats nothing.